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Class 
Book. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 




Francis C. Riciiter 

Author of the "History and Records of Base Bal 
Editor of "Sporting Life" 



and 



RICHTER'S 

History and T^ecords of 

BASE BALL 



The ^American ^}{ations Chief Sport 
"By FRANCIS C. RICHTER, Editor of ''Sporting Life'' 



Price $ 2.0 o 

PUBLISHED BY FrANCIS C. RiCHTER 

PHILADELPHIA, PA. 

I 9 I 4 






vt 



Copyright, by 

FRANCIS C. RICHTER, 

Philadelphia, Pa. 

1914. 



printed by 

The Dando Company 

philadelphia 



xA 



A'^ 



/ 

'IP 



MAR -4 i3l4 

©CI. A 3 02 75 7 



FOREWORD 



Without boast or apology is laid before the base ball-loving 
public of America, by the undersigned, Founder and Editor of 
"Sporting Life,'' the oldest and best organ of the great sport of 
Base Ball, this ''History and Records of Base Ball.'' This volume 
is designed to supply the growing need of a concise, yet complete, 
record of our National Game, from its remote inception and 
humble beginning to the present period of magnificent develop- 
ment to real national stature. It is also designed to serve this 
purpose in such form as to make it valuable, possibly indispensa- 
ble, as a book of special information, of ready reference, and of 
general interest to all lovers and students of the great ganie. 
This book is also designed to preserve in compact form the 
invaluable playing records of the sport, heretofore so scattered 
and so neglected that they were in danger of becoming obscured, 
reduced to mere tradition, or lost altogether. From this stand- 
point this ''History and Records of Base Ball" I believe to be 
necessary, timely, and unique; and it is therefore submitted with- 
out apology. Of the merit of my work I make no boast, leaving 
the reader to judge that; and no further comment than to state 
that if it meets with public approval I shall feel deeply grateful, 
as well as amply rewarded for what has been to me a labor of 
love for, and devotion to, a sport to which I have given the 
willing service of a lifetime. 



(^;^^144 ei^ ^^^^^^' 



CONTENTS 



$art I 

PAGE 

-^^E Origin of Base Ball ii 

The First Professional League 37 

^The National League 47 

'-The American League. 83 

^ The Old American Association 97 

-The Base Ball Tours. 107 

^ The Wars of Base Ball 119 

-The World's Championship Series 141 

-The Minor Base Ball Leagues 155 



$att II 

PAGE 

The General Records of Base Ball 163 

The Batting and Fielding Records 173 

The Pitching Records of Base Ball 181 

The Great Pitchers of Base Ball 193 

The Classics of Base Ball 201 



^art III 

page 

The Laws of Organized Ball 207 

Playing Rules Development 227 

The Leaders of Base Ball. 281 

The Players of Base Ball 291 

The Writers of Base Ball 299 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Frontispiece The Author 



FACING 
PAGE 

The Founders of Base Ball i^ 

The Keystone Club of 1865 13^ 

The Athletic Club of 1865 2^^^ 

The Cincinnati Club of 1869 31' 

Famous Players of First League 37"^ 

Arthur Pue Gorman, Pioneer 41^ 

Manager Harry Wright 45^ 

President William H. Hulbert 47'/ 

The Eight National League Presidents 53^/ 

Famous National League Players of the '80s 57^' 

Famous National League Players of the '90s 6i'^ 

National League Club Presidents of the '90s 65*' 

National League Club Presidents of the '90s 69*^ 

National League Club Presidents in 1913 73^ 

Famous National League Players of the Present "jy^ 

President John K. Tener, of The National League 81^ 

President Ban B. Johnson of The American League. . . . 83-^ 

Vice-President Charles W. Somers.of American League, 87^ 

American League Club Presidents 89"^ 

Famous American League Players of Early Days 91-^ 

Famous American League Players of Present Time 93'^ 

President H. D. McKnight, of The Old Association 97-^ 

Charles H. Byrne, of Brooklyn loi'^ 

Leaders of The Old Association 1031^ 

Famous Players of The Old Association 105^ 

Albert G. Spalding 107^ 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



FACING 
PAGE 

All-American World Tourists of 1888 111/ 

Charles A. Comiskey 115/ 

Great Figures in Four Base Ball Wars 119^ 

William C. Temple^ Donor of Temple Cup 141^ 

Managers of Modern World's Champion Teams 149/ 

James A. Williams, Minor League Father 154/ 

Leaders in the Minor League World 157 



v^ 



^att II 

facing 
page 

Players, Holders of World's Records 163^ 

Greatest Batsmen of Base Ball 173/ 

Record Pitchers of Base Ball 181*^ 

Famous Modern Base Ball Pitchers i93>^ 



$art III 

FACING 
PAGE 

A. G. Mills, Author of First National Agreement 2071^ 

August Herrmann, Chairman, National Commission. . . 213 
John E. Bruce, Sec-Treasurer, National Commission . . 223 ^ 

Henry Chadwick, "Father of Base Ball^' 227 ^ 

James A. Hart, Factor in Playing Rules Revision 255 ^ 

Benjamin F. Shibe 265 ^ 

Alfred J. Reach 2%\^ 

Some Famous Veteran Team Managers 29 1*^ 

Famous Veteran Major League Players 295 ^ 

Thomas D. Richter, Associate Editor, Sporting Life. . . 299^ 



PART I. 

(9rtgtn» Bebelopment, anb l^vog:ctsifi o{ 
$rofe)e(ie(tonal iSas^e PaU 




Founders of Game of Base Ball — 1839 to 1845 



1 — General Abner Doubleday, of Cooperstown, N. Y., designer of 
the diamond and players' positions in 1839. 2 — Alexander J. Cartwright, 
of New York, organizer of first club devoted exclusively to Base Ball, the 
Knickerbockers in 1845. 3 — Duncan F. Curry, of New York, first Presi- 
dent of Knickerbocker Club, first base ball club in 1845. 4 — William H. 
Van Cott, of New York, first president of first National Association of 
Amateur Base Ball Clubs. 




ORIGIN OF BASE BALL 

Sije Mntion*^ #atne in America, 3tg ©rigin mh ©egign* 
WmU of ®e^timoni> Jfabors; tfje Cfjeorp tiEfjat pasie Jiall 
©ebelopeb €ntmlp Jf ram an glmerican pop'sJ <game €arl? 
m tfje ilasft Centurp in tf)e CasJtern Section of tfie Countr|>» 

<HE origin of Base Ball, which is now unques- 
tionably the National Game of America, 
has always been a matter of doubt and, 
therefore, the subject of much speculation 
and controversy, which was not even par- 
tially settled until very recent times in 
official form, thanks to the investigations 
of a commission of noted base ball men, 
whose conclusions will be found in detail at the end of this chap- 
ter. Prior to that decision, however, which was published in 
1908, the editor of this History and Records of Base Ball had 
written a concise article on the "Origin of Base Ball" as one of a 
series of articles published in the Sporting Life, of Philadelphia, 
Pa., of which he has been the editor from its foundation in 1883 
to the present time. These articles were subsequently published 
in pamphlet form as a handy little book of reference. That 
booklet, however, was not sufficiently broad in scope and contents 
to satisfy either the design of its editor or the demands of stu- 
dents and lovers of the National Game, hence this enlarged, 
revised, and complete History and Records of Base Ball, for 
which those occasional Sporting Life articles by its Editor have 
served both as basis and incentive. In the initial article on 

the origin of base ball, 

published in Sporting Life in 1906, the writer said : "The origin 
of what is now indisputably America's National Game is 
shrouded in doubt, but from all the data that has been gathered, 
and from the consensus of opinion among those who have inves- 
tigated Base Ball the game would appear to have developed in 
stages from a boy's game known a century ago as 'One Old Cat.' 
It was at one time held that the game was of English origin and 
evolved from the game of 'Rounders ;' but John M. Ward, in his 
book, 'How to Play Ball,' and subsequently in a controversy with 



12 RicHTER^s History and Records of Base Ball 

the late Professor Proctor, completely disproved this theory and 
satisfactorily established the gratifying fact that America's game 
was such not only in development, but even in origin. 'One Old 
Cat' was played with bases, and from this the elaborated game 
of Base Ball doubtless acquired its name. 

THE first step TO DEVELOPMENT. 

What we know as Base Ball was played in its primitive form 
as far back as the beginning of the last century, and many of the 
oldest inhabitants remember seeing it played. It was one of the 
college sports as early as 1825. The game, however, first assumed 
importance and system in the forties, when it was elaborated and 
practiced by the first regularly organized base ball club of which 
we have any knowledge. This was the Knickerbocker Club, of 
New York City, which was organized by a number of gentlemen 
who had been playing the game since 1842, as a means of exer- 
cise on a lot which is now the site of the famous Madison Square 
Garden. In the year 1845 these gentlemen players formed them- 
selves into a permanent organization under the name of Knicker- 
bocker Club, and formulated the first playing rules of the game, 
September 23, 1845. 

THE FIRST RULES. 

"As a matter of curiosity and of record, we append these 
original rules of the game of Base Ball : 

"The bases shall be from 'home' to second base 42 paces, from first 
to third base 42 paces equidistant. The game shall consist of 21 counts 
or aces, but at the conclusion an equal number of hands must be 
played. The ball must be pitched and not thrown for the bat. A ball 
knocked outside the range of first or third base is foul. Three balls 
being struck at and missed, and the last one caught is a hand out; 
if not caught is considered fair and the striker bound to run. A ball 
being struck or tipped, and caught either flying or on the first bound, 
is a hand out. A player running the bases shall be out if the ball is 
in the hands of an adversary on the base, and the runner is touched by 
it before he makes his base; it being understood, however, that in no 
instance is a ball to be thrown at him. A player running, who shall 
prevent an adversary from catching or getting the ball before making 
his base, is a hand out. If two hands are already out, a player running 
home at the time a ball is struck cannot make an ace if the striker is 
caught out. Three hands out, all out. Players must take their strike in 
regular turn. No ace or base can be made on a foul strike. A runner 












n 












'■""■i^^SJ^ 



Geoup Picture of Keystones of Philadelphia of 1865 



Origin of Base Ball 13 

cannot be put out on making one base when a balk is made by the 
pitcher. But one base allowed when the ball bounds out of the field 
when struck." 

"From these primitive rules have grown the present complex 
rules of the game, and from the time of the Knickerbocker Club 
organization dates the development of organized Base Ball. 
Before proceeding further, it would be well to state that previous 
to 1864, a man was out if the ball, fair or foul, was caught on 
the bound ; in 1864, the *fly catch' of fair balls was adopted ; but 
the 'foul bound catch' was not abolished until 1883. Now to 
continue the history of Base Ball. 

GROWTH OF THE SPORT. 

"The new game of Base Ball prospered under the simple 
Knickerbocker Club rules for six years; interest in the sport 
grew steadily, and soon other clubs sprang into existence. 
Among them were the Gotham, Eagle, Empire and Mutual clubs, 
playing at Hoboken, on the Elysian fields; the Baltics, of Har- 
lem; the Unions, of Morrisania, and the Atlantic, Excelsior, 
Putnam and Eckford clubs, of Brooklyn. In the meantime, how- 
ever, the game was being played differently in different sections. 
In Philadelphia there existed an even older club than the Knick- 
erbocker, of New York, viz.: the Olympic Club, which was 
organized in 1833 for the purpose of playing town ball, a game 
having some slight resemblance to the later Base Ball game of 
the Knickerbockers. The Olympic Club, however, did not adopt 
Base Ball until i860; while the Knickerbocker Club played it 
from its conception, in 1845, until the club disbanded in 1882. 
In New England, a game of Base Ball known as the 'New Eng- 
land game,' was played, which also was different from the game 
in vogue in New York. The first regularly organized ball club 
in Massachusetts was the Olympic Club, of Boston, which was 
organized in 1854. 

THE FIRST BASE BALL ASSOCIATION. 

"In 1857, 3, move was made towards making Base Ball a 
national sport by a convention of the various ball clubs, at which 
a uniform set of rules was adopted. This convention was held 
in New York City, Twenty-five clubs had delegates present. 
The organization was finally perfected as the 'National Organiza- 



14 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

tion of Base Ball Players,' with a membership of sixteen clubs, 
located mainly in the cities of New York and Brooklyn. A code 
of rules was adopted and the game of Base Ball took its place as 
the recognized national sport of America. For sej/eral years the 
sport was practically confined to the Metropolitan district, great 
rivalry existing between the Eagle, Knickerbocker, Gotham and 
Empire clubs, of New York City, and the Atlantic Club, of Brook- 
lyn. The Civil War materially affected Base Ball and it lan- 
guished during 1861, '62, '63. In 1861, the Atlantics, of Brooklyn, 
won the championship, but in 1862 the Eckfords, of New York, 
wrested the title from the Atlantics, and retained it during 1863, 
when they achieved an unbroken succession of victories. In 
1863 the Playing Rules were revised and codified, and from those 
rules the present rules were evolved, with few radical changes. 
Towards the close, and 

after the civil war, 

interest in Base Ball revived rapidly in the eastern section of the 
country until 1871, when the first Professional Association was 
organized. Of this interesting period in the history of Base 
Ball, the veteran Al Wright said in the 'Clipper Annual :' 

" 'The championship reverted back to the Atlantics in 1864, and 
they held the nominal title until near the close of the season of 1867, 
their chief competitors being the Athletics, of Philadelphia, and the 
Mutiials, of New York City. The Atlantics held the nominal cham- 
pionship longer than any other club, and can also claim the credit of 
not being defeated in any game played during 1864 and 1865, this feat 
of going through two successive seasons without a defeat being unpre- 
cedented. The Eckfords, of Brooklyn, however, went through the 
season of 1863 without losing a game, and the Cincinnati Reds — under 
Harry Wright's management — accomplished a similar feat in 1869. 
The Atlantics' champion nine in 1864 and 1865 was: Pratt, pitcher; 
Pearce, catcher; Start, Crane and C. Smith on the bases; Galvin, short- 
stop, and Chapman, P. O'Brien and S. Smith in the outfield. Frank 
Norton caught during the latter part of the season of 1865, and Pearce 
played shortstop. The Athletics in 1866 played all the strongest clubs 
in the country, and were defeated only twice, once by the Atlantics, of 
Brooklyn, and once by the Unions, of Morrisania. The first game be- 
tween the Athletics and Atlantics for the championship took place 
October 1, 1866, in Philadelphia, the number of people present inside 
and outside the inclosed ground being estimated as high as 30,000, it 
being the largest attendance known at a base ball game. Inside the 



Origin of Base Ball 15 

inclosure the crowd was immense, and packed so close there was no 
room for the players to field. An attempt was, however, made to play 
the game; but one inning was suflacient to show that it was impossible, 
and, after a vain attempt to clear the field, both parties reluctantly 
consented to an adjournnient. The postponed game was played Octo- 
ber 22, in Philadelphia. The price of tickets was placed at one dollar, 
and upwards of two thousand people paid this 'steep' tariff of admis- 
sion, the highest ever charged merely for entrance to the grounds, 
while five or six thousand more witnessed the game from the sur- 
rounding embankments. Rain and darkness obliged the umpire to call 
the game at the end of the seventh inning, the victory remaining with 
the Athletics by the decisive totals of 31 to 12. A dispute about the 
gate money prevented the playing of the deciding game of the series. 
The Unions, of Morrisania, by defeating the Atlantics in two out of 
three games in the latter part of the season of 1867, became entitled 
to the nominal championship, which during the next two seasons was 
shifted between the leading clubs of New York and Brooklyn. The 
Athletics in 1868 and the Cincinnatis in 1869 had, however, the best 
records of their respective seasons, and were generally acknowledged 
as the virtual champions. The Athletics, of Philadelphia, in 1866 had: 
McBride, pitcher; Dockney, catcher; Berkenstock, Reach and Pike on 
the bases; Wilkins, shortstop, and Sensenderfer, Fisler and Kleinf elder 
in the outfield. Their nine presented few changes during the next two 
seasons: Dockney, Berkenstock and Pike giving way to Radcliff, Outh- 
bert and Berry in 1867, and Schafer taking Kleinfelder's place in 1868. 
The Cincinnati nine in 1869 were: Brainard, pitcher; Allison, catcher; 
Gould, Sweasy and Waterman on the bases; George Wright, shortstop; 
and Leonard, Harry Wright and McVey in the outfield. In 1868, the 
late Frank Queen, proprietor and editor of 'The Clipper,' offered a 
series of prizes to be contested for by the leading clubs of the country, 
a gold ball being offered for the champion club, and a gold badge to 
the player in each position from catcher to right field who had the 
best batting average. The official award gave a majority of the prizes 
to the Athletic Club — McBride, Radcliff, Fisler, Reach and Sensen- 
derfer having excelled in their respective positions of pitcher, catcher, 
first base, second base and centre field. Waterman, Hatfield, and 
Johnson, of the Cincinnati Club, excelled in the positions of third 
base, left field and right field, and George Wright, of the Unions of 
Morrisania, at shortstop. The gold ball was also officially awarded to 
the Athletics as the emblem of championship for the season of 1868. 
The Atlantics, of Brooklyn, were virtually the champions of 1870, being 
the first club to deprive the Cincinnati Reds of their prestige of invin- 
cibility which had marked their career during the preceding season. 
The inaugural contest of 1870 between these clubs took place June 14, 
on the Capitoline Grounds, Brooklyn, N. Y., the Atlantics then win- 
ning by a score of 8 to 7, after an exciting struggle of eleven innings. 



1 6 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

The return game was played September 2, in Cincinnati, O., and 
resulted in a decisive victory for the Cincinnatis by 14 to 3. This 
necessitated a third or decisive game, which was played October 26, 
in Philadelphia, Pa., the Atlantics then winning by a score of 11 to 7. 
The Atlantics in 1870 had: Zettlein, pitcher; Ferguson, catcher; Start, 
Pike and Smith on the bases; Pearce, shortstop, and Chapman, Hall 
and McDonald in the outfield.* " 

"Up to 1 868, the contests of the National Association had 
been of the amateur order, but the intense club rivalry for 
supremacy had gradually introduced professionals into the ranks 
to such an extent that it became necessary to create a distinct 
association of paid players. The result was the organization of 
the Professional Association, March 17, 1871, and the establish- 
ment of a regular national championship, which has been con- 
tested for annually ever since.*' 

settled by commission. 

After the above was written and published in Sporting 
Life in 1906, various controversies over ancient and doubtful 
points were started, especially on the question whether Base Ball 
was evolved from the American "One Old Cat" or the English 
"Rounders." In order to settle the question authoritatively, if 
not definitely, Mr. A. G. Spalding, the famous ex-player, subse- 
quently sporting goods manufacturer, and founder of the house 
of A. G. Spalding & Bros., in 1906 appointed a commission to 
sift all the available evidence on the mooted question and reach 
a definite conclusion. The commission was composed of seven 
men of high repute and undoubted knowledge of Base Ball, 
namely: Mr. A. G. Mills, who was the third president of the 
National League; Hon. Morgan G. Bulkeley, the first president 
of the National League and subsequently one of the United 
States Senators from Connecticut; Mr. Nicholas E. Young, who 
was president of the National League from 1885 to 1902 ; Alfred 
J. Reach, an old-time player of prominence, president of the 
Philadelphia Club for twenty years, and the senior member of 
the sporting goods house of A. J. Reach & Co. ; George Wright, 
the most famous shortstop in the early history of the game ; with 
James E. Sullivan, president of the Amateur Athletic Union of 
the United States, as secretary to the commission. Hon. Arthur 
Pue Gorman, who was actively identified with the game in its 



Origin of Base Ball 17 

earlier days and subsequently became United States Senator 
from Maryland, was selected as one of the commissioners, but 
his death occurred during the deliberation of the commission. 

THE DECISION. 

The subject was long and carefully considered. A mass of 
testimony was taken and finally Mr. A. G. Mills wrote to Secre- 
tary Sullivan that his deductions from the testimony submitted 
were: 

First — That Base Ball had its origin in the United States. 

Second — That the first scheme for playing it, according to the 
evidence obtainable to date, was devised by Abner Doubleday, Coop- 
erstown, N. Y., in 1839. 

Mr. Mills' decision was unanimously concurred in by the 
other members of the commission, and was reduced to pamphlet 
form and published officially in the Spring of 1908. Since then 
the report has been made the subject of carping criticism here 
and there, but as a whole it has proven acceptable and has been 
recognized by the mass of critics and the public as an authori- 
tative arid final settlement of the question long at issue. As a 
matter both of present interest and future record we append the 
full report of the commission as compiled by Mr. James E. Sul- 
livan, secretary of the commission, and published in the "Spald- 
ing National League Guide" of 1908 : 

THE commission's OFFICIAL REPORT. 

In the Guide of 1905 there appeared an article from Mr. A. G. 
Spalding, taking issue with Mr. Henry Chadwick, as to the origin of 
Base Ball. 

Mr. Chadwick has contended for many years that the present 
American game of Base Bali derived its origin from, and was a direct 
descendant of the old English schoolboy game of "Rounders," while 
Mr. Spalding contends that Base Ball is distinctively American, in 
origin as well as development, and has no connection whatever with 
"Rounders" or any other foreign game. 

As these well-known Base Ball authorities could not reach an 
agreement between themselves on this question, it was good-naturedly 
decided by the contending forces to refer the whole matter to a Special 
Base Ball Commission for full consideration and decision. The fol- 
lowing gentlemen, well-known men in the Base Ball world, accepted 
positions on this Commission, viz.: 
2 



V 



i8 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Mr. A. G. Mills, of New York, an enthusiastic ball player before 

and during the Civil War, and the third president of the 

National League. 
Hon. Arthur P. Gorman (since deceased), ex-United States Senator 

from Maryland. 
Hon. Morgan G. Bulkeley, ex-Governor, and now United States 

Senator from Connecticut, and the first president of the 

National League. 
Mr. N. E. Young, of Washington, D. C, a veteran ball player, and 

the first Secretary and afterwards the fourth President of the 

National League. 
Mr. Alfred J. Reach, of Philadelphia, and 
Mr. George Wright, of Boston, both well-known business men and 

two of the most famous ball players in their day. 
Mr. James E. Sullivan, of New York, president of the Amateur 

Athletic Union, accepted the position of Secretary of this Spe- 
cial Commission. 
This controversy as to the origin of Base Ball, and the appoint- 
ment of a commission of such high standing, aroused considerable 
public interest, especially among the old-timers of the game. The Sec- 
retary was deluged with communications from different parts of the 
country, all having more or less bearing on this question. For the 
past three years the Secretary has conducted an extensive correspond- 
ence in collecting data and following up various clues, suggested by 
this correspondence, that would aid the Commission in arriving at a 
decision as to the origin of the game. Having collected all the data 
and evidence it was possible to obtain, the Secretary compiled the 
whole matter together, and at the close of 1907 laid it all before the 
Special Base Ball Commission for its consideration and decision. The 
members of the Commission have spent several months in going over 
the mass of evidence collected, which has finally resulted in a unani- 
mous decision by the Commission that Base Ball is of American origin, 
and has no traceable connection whatever with "Rounders," or any 
other foreign game. 

The Secretary has recently received notice of this final decision, 
just in time to promulgate it for the first time in this issue of the 
Guide. ' Space in the Guide will not permit the publication of all the 
data and evidence that was collected and submitted to the Commis- 
sion, but it is the intention of the publishers of Spalding's Athletic 
Library to add to that series a special book on the "Origin of Base 
Ball," which will contain the whole matter in detail. In this issue 
of the Guide, in addition to the full decision of the Commission, there 
will appear the letters, or "briefs," that were addressed to the Com- 
mission by Mr. Henry Chadwick in support of his contention, and also 
by Mr. A. G. Spalding and Mr. John M. Ward, who fought on the 
American side of this "Origin" controversy. 



Origin of Base Ball 19 

The thanks of the Base Ball public are due the members of the 
Special Commission for the time and thought they have given to this, 
subject, and their decision should forever set at rest the question as 
to the Origin of Base Ball. 

MR. HENRY CHADWICK's ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF HIS 

'"rounder^^ theory. 

Brooklyn, N. Y., August 1, 1907. 
To Messrs. A. G. Mills, Morgan G. Bulkeley, N. E. Young, Alfred J. 

Reach and George Wright. 
Gentlemen: 

In relation to the existing controversy between Mr. A. G. Spald- 
ing and myself as to the origin of the established American game of 
Base Ball, I shall be "brief and to the point" in my discussion of the 
question at issue between us; and, in presenting my argument, I shall 
not occupy even an hour of your valuable time, inasmuch as the facts 
I present for your impartial consideration are simply incontrovertible. 

In the first, the basic principle involved in the point at issue is 
the use of a ball, a bat, and of bases, in the playing of a game of ball; 
and, secondly, the date of the period when this self -same basic princi- 
ple was first carried into practical effect on the field of play. 

Now I claim, on behalf of my English clients, that the established 
American national game of Base Ball had for its origin the old Eng- 
lish schoolboy game of "Rounders," and that this latter game existed 
in England as far back as two centuries ago; and, in fact, it is a 
question at issue in England as to whether "Rounders" did not ante- 
date the time-honored game of Cricket itself. Suflice it to say, how- 
ever, that the fact that "Rounders" was played by two opposing sides 
of contestants, on a special field of play, in which a ball was pitched 
or tossed to an opposing batsman, who endeavored to strike the ball 
out into the field, far enough to admit of his safely running the round 
of the bases, so as to enable him to score a run, to count in the game — 
the side scoring the most runs winning the game — fully identifies the 
similarity of the two games. This, in fact, was the basic principle of 
the old English game of "Rounders," and it is, to this daj^ the basic 
principle of the American national game of Base Ball. 

As to the various methods of playing the two games, and the 
difference in their respective details of play, that matter in no way 
affects the question of the origin of the American game of Base Ball. 

In regard to the point, made by the opposing counsel, in which he 
refers to the game of ball played in "Colonial" days, I claim that the 
Canadian national game of "Lacrosse," a game played by the abori- 
gines of North America, and the old English game of Cricket, played 
in New York as far back as 1751, were the only games of ball known 
to our Colonial ancestry in the old revolutionary period he refers to. 
So his argument in that regard falls to the ground "as dead as a door 
nail," as the saying is. 



20 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

On this statement of incontrovertible facts I present my clients' 
case to your final judgment, feeling confident that your decision will 
be in my favor. 

Very respectfully yours, 

HENRY CHADWICK, 

Counsel for the Defense. 

MR. A. G. SPALDING CONTENDS THAT BASE BALL IS OF AMERICAN 

ORIGIN. 

Point Loma, Cal., July 28, 1907. 
To the Special Base Ball Commission. 
Gentlemen: 

I claim that the game of Base Ball is entirely of American origin, 
and has no relation to, or connection with, any game of any other 
country, except in so far as all games of ball have a certain similarity 
and family relationship. 

While it is to be regretted that the beginning of Base Ball is more 
or less shrouded in mystery, I believe ample evidence has been col- 
lected that will convince the most skeptical that Base Ball is entirely 
of American origin, and had its birth and evolution in the United 
States. The game is so thoroughly in accord with our national char- 
acteristics and temperament that this fact in itself tends to confirm 
my opinion that it is of purely American origin, and no other game or 
country has any right to claim its parentage. 

During my Base Ball trip around the world in 1888-89, in company 
with the Chicago and Ail-American Teams, we were frequently 
reminded of the resemblance between Base Ball and some local game 
in nearly every country we visited. Invariably, upon investigation, 
we failed to see the resemblance, and our request for a printed book 
of rules of such alleged games brought forth the stereotyped reply that 
there was no such printed rules. 

Whenever a Base Ball exhibition was given before an English 
audience, whether in New Zealand, Australia, Ceylon, Egypt or Eng- 
land, it was not infrequent to hear an expression something like this: 
"Why, this American game of Base Ball is nothing more than our old 
English game of Rounders that we used to play with the girls when 
w^e were boys, you know!" Some of our American Base Ball party 
were inclined to resent these sneering comments, so when we arrived 
in England, filled with a desire to witness a game of Rounders, we 
boldly issued a public challenge to play a game of Rounders with any 
Rounders club in England, they, in return to play us a game of 
Base Ball. This challenge brought an acceptance from the Champion 
Rounders Club of England, and the game took place at Liverpool early 
in 1889. Books of the playing rules of both games, as then played, 
were exchanged between the English and American teams, but a care- 
ful study of these books of rules revealed very little similarity be- 



Origin of Base Ball 21 

tween the two games. In fact, about the only point of similarity 
seemed to be in the smaller size of the Rounders playing field, 
which was square in shape, the four corners of which were about 50 
or 60 feet apart, marked by four small sticks about 3 feet high, with 
a tiny flag on the top; whereas the Base Ball field is diamond-shaped 
with flat bases at each corner and 90 feet apart. 

Eleven men compose a Rounders team, and two innings consti- 
tute a game, it being necessary to put out the eleven batting side to 
complete an innings; all of which indicates that either Rounders was 
an offshoot from Cricket, or possibly Cricket had its origin in Round- 
ers, which is very much more plausible, and certainly more likely, 
than that Base Ball originated from Rounders. The miniature one- 
handed bat used in Rounders is of the same general flat shape as a 
cricket bat, but much smaller — another indication of the relationship 
between Cricket and Rounders. The Rounders ball is a small and 
a rather soft affair, about the size of a golf ball, whereas the Base 
Ball and Cricket ball are about the same size and weight, though dif- 
ferently constructed. Another similarity between Cricket and Round- 
ers is the peculiar manner of scoring runs in the latter game, which 
provides that a run be counted as the runner (or, as we would call 
it in Base Ball, the base runner) touches each post; thus a complete 
circuit around the four posts would count as four runs. 

In thus comparing Cricket with Rounders, it must not be under- 
stood that I am claiming that Cricket originated from Rounders, but 
simply to bring out and emphasize the fact that Cricket resembles 
Rounders more than Base Ball does, but any comparison with Round- 
ers only tends to belittle both games. 

For your information I might add that the one-innings Liverpool 
Rounders match between our American Base Ball team and England's 
Champion Rounders Club resulted in favor of the Englishmen by a 
score of 11 to 8. In the subsequent Base Ball match the English 
Rounders players failed to hit a ball or make a run in their first in- 
nings while the American Base Ball Players made 35 runs with no 
one out and their first innings was never finished. 

I am aware that quite a general impression exists in the public 
mind that Base Ball had its origin in the English schoolboy game of 
Rounders, which has been occasioned largely, if not entirely, by the 
very able Base Ball writings of my esteemed and venerable friend, 
Mr. Henry Chadwick, who for the past 40 years has continued to 
make the assertion that Base Ball had its origin in Rounders, with- 
out as yet producing any satisfactory evidence to sustain his theory. 
Mr. Chadwick has done so much for Base Ball, especially in its early 
struggling days, that I regret the necessity of disagreeing with him 
on any Base Ball subject, but my American birth and love of the game 
would not permit me to let his absurd Rounders theory pass unchal- 
lenged. If Mr. Chadwick had been born in this country, and not in 
England, he might be as totally ignorant of Rounders as the rest of 



2.2 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

lis, but it so happened that before he came to this country, when he 
was about 10 years of age, he had seen or possibly played in a game 
of Rounders, but I do not recall that he claims to have ever seen or 
played a game of Rounders since his arrival in America, nor have I 
ever seen or heard of his producing any convincing proof in support 
of his contention. 

The oft-repeated assertion that Base Ball did derive its origin 
from the English schoolboy game of Rounders may possibly convince 
some that it is a fact, but I won't be convinced of it until more satis- 
factory evidence has been produced, and your Honorable Commission 
has rendered a decision to that effect. 

A careful search has failed to find a copy of any printed Round- 
ers rules published previous to 1845, when the Knickerbocker Base 
Ball Rules first made their appearance. Any modern rules of Round- 
ers should not be accepted as evidence, for it is well known that 
friends of that game have in recent years appropriated bodily many 
of the Base Ball rules, and, in fact, a noticeable effort has been made 
to make Rounders as much like Base Ball as possible in everything 
except in name. There is no doubt but that the present-day game of 
Rounders has derived much of its modern origin from Base Ball, 
and I am as equally positive that our Base Ball of 1845 derived none 
of its origin from the ancient game of Rounders. Whatever simi- 
larity may be found between ancient Rounders and early Base Ball 
does not in itself constitute evidence that the latter game derived its 
origin from the former, and therefore should be treated simply as a 
coincidence and not as an established fact. The fact that not even 
one scrap of evidence has been produced showing that the game of 
Rounders was ever played in the United States, or that it was even 
known by name, clearly substantiates my position in declaring that 
Base Ball was not derived from Rounders, but is of American origin. 

While the evidence that has been collected and that will be sub- 
mitted to the Commission is not as complete and definite as I should 
like to have it, yet under the circumstances and at this late date it 
is the best and only evidence obtainable, but I believe it is amply 
sufficient to warrant the Commission in deciding that Base Ball is 
of American origin and in no way connected with Rounders or any 
game of any other country. The tea episode in Boston Harbor, and 
our later fracas with England in 1812, had not been sufficiently for- 
gotten in 1840 for anyone to be deluded into the idea that our national 
prejudices would permit us to look with favor, much less adopt any 
sport or game of an English flavor. 

Having, in my opinion, by the evidence submitted to your Hon- 
orable Commission, established the fact that Base Ball was of 
purely American origin, it now becomes necessary, if possible, to 
determine just how it did come about. 

My rather exhaustive research and study of the subject leads 
me to the conclusion that Base Ball derived its origin from the old 



Origin of Base Ball 23 

colonial game of "One Old Cat," which was played by three boys — 
a thrower, a catcher and a batsman — the batsman after striking the 
ball running to a goal about thirty feet distant, and by returning to 
his batting position counting one tally. "Two Old Cat" was played 
by four boys — two batsmen and two throwers — each alternating as 
catchers, and a "tally" was made by the batsman hitting the ball 
and exchanging places with the batsman at the opposite goal. 
"Three Old Cat" was played by six boys — three batsmen and three 
throwers — each alternating as catchers, and "tallies" were made 
same as in "Two Old Cat." "Four Old Cat" was played by eight 
boys — four batsmen and four throwers — each alternating as catchers, 
and "tallies" were scored same as in "Two Old Cat." "Four Old 
Cat" was played on a square-shaped field, each side of which was 
about 40 feet long. All the batsmen were forced to run to the next 
corner of this square, or "goals," as they were called, whenever any 
one of the batsmen struck the ball, but if the ball was caught on 
the fly or first bound, or any one of the four batsmen was hit by 
a thrown ball between goals, that runner was out, and his place 
was taken by the fielding player who put him out. These "Old Cat" 
games correspond to the present-day so-called "Scrub Games" of 
Base Ball, and were changed from one, two, three or four "Old Cat" 
to take in additional boys as they arrived on the field. 

At some time in the remote past, to accommodate a greater num- 
ber of players, and to change the individual players of the "Old 
Cat" games into competing teams, probably some ingenious Ameri- 
can boy figured it out that by placing one thrower in the center of 
the "Four Old Cat" square field and having one catcher, with the 
players divided into sides, this desired result would be accomplished. 
This style of game produced what has become generally known as 
"Town Ball," which was played in this country for many years 
before Base Ball appeared, and in fact was played up to and for 
several years after Base Ball was established by the Knickerbocker 
Club in 1845. "Town Ball" derived its name from the fact that it 
was generally played at "Town Meetings." Mr. H. H. Waldo, of 
Rockford, 111., one of the pioneers of the West and one of the early 
promoters of Base Ball, said: "I came West in 1846, and found 'Town 
Ball' a popular game at all town meetings, and I have no doubt it 
acquired its name from this fact. The number of players on a side 
was unlimited, and it was the custom of the losing side to buy the 
gingerbread and cider. I have always regarded the game of Base 
Ball as now played as a modification of 'Town Ball.' I never heard 
of Rounders. We had too much national pride in those days to adopt 
anything that was English in our sporting life." 

"Town Ball" differed somewhat in different localities as to the 
method of playing the game, but the playing field was invariably 
laid out in the shape of a square (not a diamond, as in the Base Ball 
field), with the four corners or goals about 60 feet apart. The goals 



\ 



24 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

were numbered first, second, third and fourth goals. The batsman's 
position was located half-way between first and fourth goal, distant 
30 feet from each goal. The catcher was stationed back of the bats- 
man and outside the square, and the thrower was placed in the 
center of the square field. A circuit of the four goals counted one 
"tally," or run. A batsman could select any thrown ball to strike at, 
but if he missed the ball and the catcher caught it he was out. If 
a batted ball was caught on the fly or first bound the batsman was 
out. If hit by a thrown ball while running between goals the run- 
ner was out. Three out, all out; when the fielding side took their 
innings at the bat. Foul balls being unknown, the more skilled bats- 
man would deflect the ball back of him, which was considered one 
of the scientific features of "Town Ball." 

In the absence of any printed rules it was necessary before the 
game commenced to decide upon the number of "tallies" that would 
constitute a game, and the side that made that number of tallies 
first won the game. The designated number of such tallies varied 
from 21 to 100. The score was kept by making a notch on each side 
of a fiat stick. In the absence of any printed playing rules govern- 
ing "Town Ball" it was natural that the game would vary consid- 
erably in different localities, but the most usual mode of playing the 
game was as outlined above. The same game with different names 
existed in different parts of the country. In certain parts of New 
England it was known by the name of "Round Ball," but I have 
been unable to find any evidence where it was ever called "Round- 
ers." In Massachusetts in the early fifties this "Town Ball" game 
was changed in name to "Base Ball," and in those early days it was 
referred to as the "Massachusetts game of Base Ball," in contra- 
distinction to the "New York game of Base Ball," the latter being the 
present game of Base Ball, while the so-called Massachusetts game 
of Base Ball was simply the game of "Town Ball" or "Round Ball," 
with some slight modifications. In the early sixties the so-called 
game of Massachusetts Base Ball, like Town Ball, died a natural 
death, and the so-called New York game, or present game of Base 
Ball, has become thoroughly nationalized, and at present is the only 
game of Base Ball now played anywhere in the world. 

I would call the special attention of the Commission to the let- 
ters received from Mr. Abner Graves, at present a mining engineer 
of Denver, Colo., who claims that the present game of Base Ball was 
designed and named by Abner Doubleday, of Cooperstown, N. Y., 
during the Harrison Presidential campaign of 1839, which antedates 
the organization of the old Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New 
York City by six years, when the first printed rules were promul- 
gated. It also antedates by three years the first authentic account 
of games of Base Ball being played in a desultory sort of way by 
the young business men of New York City in 1842. While it has 
generally been conceded that New York City was the birthplace of 



Origin of Base Ball 25 

Base Ball in 1842, this account of Mr. Graves tends to locate its 
birth at Cooperstown, N. Y,, in 1839, and General Abner Doubleday 
its designer and christener. 

In this connection it is of interest to know that this Abner 
Doubleday was a graduate of West Point in 1842, and afterward 
became famous in the Civil War as the man who sighted the first 
gun fired from Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861, which opened the War 
of the Rebellion between the North and South. He afterward 
became a Major General in the United States Army and retired from 
service in 1873, and died January 26, 1893. 

Mr. Abner Graves was a boy playmate and fellow pupil of Abner 
Doubleday at Green's Select School in Cooperstown, N. Y., in 1839. 
Mr. Graves, who is still living, says that he was present when Dou- 
bleday first outlined with a stick in the dirt the present diamond- 
shaped Base Ball field, indicating the location of the players in the 
field, and afterward saw him make a diagram of the field on paper, 
with a crude pencil memorandum of the rules for his new game, 
which he named "Base Ball." As Mr. Graves was one of the youths 
that took part in this new game under Doubleday's direction his 
interesting and positive account of this incident is certainly entitled 
to serious consideration. 

Personally, I confess that I am very much impressed with the 
straightforward, positive and apparently accurate manner in which 
Mr. Graves writes his narrative, and the circumstantial evidence 
with which he surrounds it, and I am very strongly inclined to the 
belief that Cooperstown, N. Y., is the birthplace of the present 
American game of Base Ball, and that Major General Abner Double- 
day was the originator of the game.: It certainly appeals to an 
American's pride to have had the great national game of Base Ball 
created and named by a Major General in the United States Army, 
and to have that same game played as a camp diversion by the sol- 
diers of the Civil War, who, at the conclusion of the war, dissemi- 
nated Base Ball throughout the length and breadth of the United 
States, and thus gave to the game its national character. The United 
States Army has certainly played a very important part in the early 
development of Base Ball, and in recent years the United States 
Navy has become the emissary that is planting the seeds of the game 
in every foreign land, which must result in making the American 
national game of Base Ball the universal field sport of the world. 
The intrinsic merits of the game itself can be depended upon to over- 
come all prejudice and opposition that may show itself. 

Enclosed herewith you will find a very interesting letter bear- 
ing on this subject from Mr. John M. Ward, a celebrated player in his 
time, and now a prominent lawyer in New York City. Mr. Ward 
has made an extended research and study into the origin of the 
game, and has come to the same conclusion that I have, viz., that 
Base Ball is of American origin and has no possible connection with 
the English game, of Rounders or any other foreign game. 



\ 



26 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

You will also find attached hereto a copy of the original Base 
Ball Playing Rules, formulated and published by the Knickerbocker 
Base Ball Club, September 23, 1845. In connection with these origi- 
nal Base Ball rules you will find a comparison I have drawn between 
these original Knickerbocker rules and the present playing rules of 
the game of 1907, which show practically no change in the under- 
lying principles of the rules of the game from its inception to the 
present time. 

A careful comparison and analysis of the original Knickerbocker 
Base Ball rules of 1845 with the rules or description of the so-called 
English game of Rounders will show the total dissimilarity of the 
two games, and should convince the most skeptical that there is 
absolutely no resemblance between the two games, and consequently 
it is impossible that one of these games should trace its origin to the 
other. 

Respectfully submitted, 

A. G. SPALDING. 

MR. JOHN M. ward's OPINION AS TO THE ORIGIN OF BASE BALL. 

Law Offices of John M. Ward, 
277 Broadway. 

New York, June 19, 1907. 
A. G. Spalding, Point Loma, Cal. 
My Dear Albert: 

I have carefully read over the letters and manuscripts you sent 
me bearing upon the question of the origin of Base Ball, and I am 
very much in sympathy with your effort to obtain some exact infor- 
mation upon that question. I fear, however, that your efforts must, 
in the nature of the case, meet with failure, though your investiga- 
tions may result in throwing some side lights upon the inquiry. 

The game of Base Ball had its origin in this country so many 
years ago that the living witnesses have long since passed off the 
green sward and the circumstances surrounding its inception were 
undoubtedly such that no written records or memoranda of any kind 
were ever made. Base Ball was originally a boy's game. We know 
this much, at least, from the testimony of the men who first took it 
up and formulated its rules for the purpose of making it a manly 
pastime. When, in about the year 1842, or earlier, Dr. D. L. Adams, 
Alexander J. Cartwright, Colonel James Lee, Duncan F. Curry, E. R. 
Dupignac, William F. Ladd and other prominent business and pro- 
fessional men of New York City, seeking some medium for outdoor 
exercise, turned to the boys' game of Base Ball, there was not a code 
of rules nor any written records of the game, and their only guide 
to the method of playing was their own recollection of the game as 
they themselves, when boys, had played it and the rules of the game 
then in existence, which had come down, like folklore, from genera- 
tion to generation of boys. Indeed it was not until several years 



/ 




Group Picture of Athletics of Philadelphia of 1865 



Origin of Base Ball 27 

later, upon the organization of the Knickerbocker Ball Club in 1845, 
that the rules of the game were first put in writing. Some years 
later, 20 to be exact, I had occasion to look this matter up and 
was fortunately able to talk personally with several of the original 
members of the Knickerbocker Club, then still living. Mr. William 
F. Ladd was at that time a jeweler in Wall Street, a fine, handsome 
old gentleman, 84 years of age, with an intellect as clear as a jewel. 
He told me many interesting incidents about those early days of the 
game. One of these was that Col. James Lee, who was, at the time 
of the organization of the Knickerbocker Ball Club, about 60 years 
of age, was one of the moving spirits in the organization of that 
club. That Col. Lee had told him that he, Col. Lee, had played Base 
Ball as a boy; that it was upon the recollection of Col. Lee and other 
men of mature years among that little coterie of health-seeking 
enthusiasts, that the rules were formulated. Another interesting tale 
told me by Mr. Ladd was that the reason they chose the game of 
Base Ball instead of — and in fact in opposition to — Cricket was 
because they regarded Base Ball as a purely American game; and it 
appears that there was at that time some considerable prejudice 
against adopting any game of foreign invention. 

In the infancy of sport in this country New York, Philadelphia 
and Boston were the three principal centers and an examination of 
the earliest records in each one of these sections will disclose the 
same old popular game of Cat Ball as played among the boys. The 
rules of Cat Ball, as some of your correspondents point out, were 
exceedingly simplfe, such as any crowd of boys of ordinary intelli- 
gence, possessing a ball and bat, might easily evolve. From Cat 
Ball to the Knickerbocker game of Base Ball is only a step, though 
the game may have been passed through several intermediate stages. 
The old game of "Scrub" lies between Cat Ball and Base Ball, though 
whether it preceded or followed the game of Base Ball in point of 
time no man can now say. 

The Knickerbocker game of Base Ball was itself a very simple 
game requiring no great inventive genius, and one of the secrets of 
the immense popularity and its quick spread through the country 
was its very simplicity. It is true that the modern book of rules is 
a formidable looking document, but upon analysis it will be found to 
consist mainly of explanations, expositions and refinements of the 
original simple code. The simplicity of the central idea of the game 
of Base Ball makes it adaptable to the changing disposition of the 
times; and so it has gone along still holding its original place in our 
affections and increasing the number of its votaries year by year 
with the country's growth. 

Those who have sought to attribute its origin to the English 
game of Rounders were persons who became acquainted with 
Base Ball years after its inception as a sport for adults, and they 
have ignored entirely so much of the early history of the game as we 



28 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

have been able to find. But most important of all it seems to me 
they overlook the great dissimilarity between the original central 
and controlling ideas of the two games. The great feature of Round- 
ers, that from which it derives its name, is "the rounder" itself, 
meaning that whenever one of the "in" side makes a complete con- 
tinuous circuit of the bases, or as we would call it in Base Ball, a 
"home run," he thereby reinstates the entire side; and it then be- 
comes necessary to begin all over again to retry each one of the 
side at bat, until all of them have been put out, such being one of 
the rules of that game. Not one of these detractors of the Ameri- 
can game has ever shown or claimed that any such rule ever had a 
place in the game of Base Ball; yet it is not only fair but reasonable 
to suppose that, if Base Ball were a descendant of the English game 
of Rounders, there would be some place somewhere in Base Ball of 
this distinctive feature of the other game. As I have said before, 
however, all exact information upon the origin of Base Ball must, in 
the very nature of things, be unobtainable. Boys do not make rec- 
ords of the rules of their boyish games and we have never had in 
this country the "Year Books" or a "Badminton Library" to do the 
work for us. America has no "Stonehenge" and therefore we are 
handicapped in any discussion of this nature by the entire absence 
of contemporary data. But from what investigations I have made 
and from such information as I have been able to get from one 
source and another, and from the innate probabilities, I have never 
had any doubt myself but that Base Ball was a purely American 
game. 

Yours very truly, 

JOHN M. WARD. 

FINAL DECISION OF THE SPECIAL BASE BALL COMMISSION. 

New York, December 30, 1907. 
Mr. James E. Sullivan, Secretary, Special Base Ball Commission, 

21 Warren Street, New York City. 
Dear Sullivan: 

On my earliest opportunity, after my recent return from Europe, 
I read — and read with much interest — the considerable mass of testi- 
mony bearing on the origin of Base Ball which you had sent to my 
office address during my absence. I cannot say that I find myself 
in accord with those who urge the American origin of the game as 
against its English origin as contended for by Mr. Chadwick, on 
"patriotic ground." In my opinion we owe much to our Anglo-Saxon 
kinsmen for their example which we have too tardily followed in 
fostering healthful field sports generally, and if the fact could be 
established by evidence that our national game, Base Ball, was 
devised in England, I do not think that it would be any the less 
admirable nor welcome on that account. As a matter of fact, 
the game of ball which I have always regarded as the distinctive 



Origin of Base Ball 29 

English game, i. e., Cricket, was brought to this country and had a 
respectable following here, which it has since maintained, long before 
any game of ball resembling our national game was played any- 
where. Indeed, the earliest field sport that I remember was a game 
of Cricket, played on an open field near Jamaica, L. I., where I was 
then attending school. Then, and ever since, I have heard Cricket 
spoken of as the essentially English game, and, until my perusal of 
this testimony, my own belief has been that our game of Base Ball, 
substantially as played today, originated with the Knickerbocker 
Club, of New York, and it was frequently referred to as the "New 
York Ball Game." 

While "Father" Chadwick and I have not always agreed (I recall 
that he at first regarded as revolutionary the "Full Team Reserve 
Rule" and the alliance between professional Base Ball associations, 
both of which I devised in 1883, and I later modeled after the latter 
the Alliance feature of the A. A. U. reorganization), yet I always 
have had respect for his opinions and admiration for his inflexible 
honesty of purpose; and I have endeavored to give full weight to his 
contention that Base Ball is of English origin. It does seem to me, 
however, that, in the last analysis, his contention is based chiefly 
upon the fact that, substantially, the saine kind of implements are 
employed in the game of Base Ball as in the English game of 
Rounders to which he refers; for if the mere tossing or handling of 
some kind of ball, or striking it with some kind of a stick, could be 
accepted as the origin of our game, then "Father" Chadwick would 
certainly have to go far back of Anglo-Saxon civilization — beyond 
Rome, beyond Greece, at least to the palmy days of the Chaldean 
Empire! Nor does it seem to me that he can any more successfully 
maintain the argument because of the employment, by the English 
schoolboy of the past, of the implements or materials of the game. 

Surely there can be no question of the fact that Edison, Frank 
Sprague and other pioneers in the electrical field were the inventors 
of useful devices and processes whereby electricity was harnessed 
for the use of man, although they did not invent electricity, nor do 
they, nor does anybody, know today what electricity is! As I under- 
stand it, the invention or the origination of anything practical or use- 
ful, whether it be in the domain of mechanics or field sports, is the 
creation of the device or the process from pre-existing materials or 
elements; and, in this sense, I do not, myself, see how there can be 
any question that the game of Base Ball originated in the United 
States and not in England — where it certainly had never been played, 
in however crude a form, and was strange and unfamiliar when an 
American ball team first played it there. 

As I have stated, my belief had been that our "National Game 
of Base Ball" originated with the Knickerbocker Club, organized in 
New York in 1845, and which club published certain elementary 
rules in that year;- but, in the interesting and pertinent testimony for 



30 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

which we are indebted to Mr. A. G. Spalding, appears a circumstan- 
tial statement by a reputable gentleman, according to which the first 
known diagram of the diamond, indicating positions for the players, 
was drawn by Abner Doubleday, in Cooperstown, N. Y., in 1839. 
Abner Doubleday subsequently graduated from West Point and en- 
tered the regular army, where, as Captain of Artillery, he sighted the 
first gun fired on the Union side (at Fort Sumter) in the Civil War. 
Later still, as Major General, he was in command of the Union army 
at the close of the first day's fight in the battle of Gettysburg, and 
he died, full of honors, at Mendham, N. J., in 1893. it happened that 
he and I were members of the same veteran military organization — 
the crack Grand Army Post (Lafayette), and the duty devolved upon 
me, as Commander of that organization, to have charge of his obse- 
quies, and to command the veteran military escort which served as 
guard of honor when his body lay in state, Januarj^ 30, 1893, in the 
New York City Hall, prior to his interment in Arlington. 

In the days when Abner Doubleday attended school in Coopers- 
town, it was a common thing for two dozen or more of schoolboys 
to join in a game of ball. Doubtless, as in my later experience, col- 
lisions between players in attempting to catch the batted ball were 
frequent, and injury due to this cause, or the practice of putting out 
the runner by hitting him with the ball, often occurred. 

I can well understand how the orderly mind of the embryo West 
Pointer would devise a scheme for limiting the contestants on each 
side and allotting them to field positions, each with a certain amount 
of territory; also substituting the existing method of putting out the 
base runner for the old one of "plugging" him with the ball. 

True, it appears from the statement that Doubleday provided 
for eleven men on a side, instead of nine, stationing the two extra 
men between first and second, and second and third bases, but this 
is a minor detail, and, indeed, I have played, and doubtless other old 
players have, repeatedly with eleven on a side, placed almost identi- 
cally in the manner indicated by Doubleday's diagram, although it is 
true that we so played after this number on each side had been fixed 
at nine, simply to admit to the game an additional number of those 
who wished to take part in it. 

I am also much interested in the statement made by Mr. Curry, 
of the pioneer Knickerbocker Club, and confirmed by Mr. Tassie, 
of the famous old Atlantic Club, of Brooklyn, that a diagram, 
showing the ball field laid out substantially as it is today, was 
brought to the field one afternoon by a Mr. Wadsworth. Mr. Curry 
says "the plan caused a great deal of talk, but finally, we agreed to 
try it." While he is not quoted as adding that they did both try and 
adopt it, it is apparent that such was the fact; as, from that day to 
this, the scheme of the game described by Mr. Curry has been con- 
tinued with only slight variations in detail. It should be borne in 
mind that Mr. Curry was the first president of the old Knickerbocker 




Xf.LJSON C.d 



l<Rr,i) UATfRMAN Thsr.l B.isf \\l)\ [,r,nNS,Rl) Ltft 



Group Pictuee of Cincinnati Reds of 1869 



Origin of Base Ball 31 

Club, and participated in drafting the first published rules of the 
game. 

It is possible that a connection more or less direct can be traced 
between the diagram drawn by Doubleday in 1839 and that presented 
to the Knickerbocker Club by Wadsworth in 1845, or thereabouts, 
and I wrote several days ago for certain data bearing on this point, 
but as it has not yet come to hand I have decided to delay no longer 
sending in the kind of paper your letter calls for, promising to fur- 
nish you the indicated data when I obtain it, whatever it may be. 

My deductions from the testimony submitted are: 

First: That "Base Ball" had its origin in the United States. 

Second: That the first scheme for playing it, according to the 
best evidence obtainable to date, was devised by Abner Doubleday 
at Cooperstown, N. Y., in 1839. Yours very truly, 

A. G. MILLS. 

We, the undersigned members of the Special Base Ball Commis- 
sion, unanimously agree with the decision as expressed and outlined 
in Mr. A. G. Mills' letter of December 30. 

MORGAN G. BULKELEY, 
NICHOLAS E. YOUNG, 
A. J. REACH, 
, GEO. WRIGHT. 

Senator Bulkeley, after affixing his signature, appended the fol- 
lowing statement: 

"I personally remember as a boy in East Haddam, Conn., before 
1846, playing the game of One and Two Old Cat, and remember with 
great distinctness the early struggles in Brooklyn, N. Y., between 
the two rival clubs, the Atlantics and Excelsiors, and later the Stars, 
with Creighton as pitcher. This was some 10 to 15 years before the 
National organization. I was present, representing the Hartford 
Club, at the formation of what is now the National League at the 
Grand Central Hotel, Broadway, New l^ork City, about 1875 or 1876, 
and was its first President, with Nick Young, Secretary. 

M. G. BULKELEY." 

AUTHENTIC RECORD OF THE PAST. 

In concluding this chapter, which seems to settle to reason- 
able satisfaction that our game of Base Ball is of American 
origin, and that it is therefore really our National Game by right 
of native invention as well as native development, we desire 
to add a bit of testimony as to the American character of Base 
Ball from Charles A. Peverelly's "Book of American Pastimes," 
published in New York in 1866 — a book which gives a yearly 
review of the popular sports of that day. In a chapter on Base 
Ball the editor of that now rather ancient book said, one year 



^2 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

after the Civil War, which is now comparatively remote history 
to the great mass of the American people: 

"The game of Base Ball has now become beyond question the 
leading feature of the outdoor sports of the United States, and to 
account for its present truly proud position, there are many and suf- 
ficient reasons. It is a game which is peculiarly suited to the Ameri- 
can temperament and disposition; the nine innings are played in the 
brief space of two and one-half hours, or less. From the moment the 
first striker takes his position, and poises his bat, it has an excitement 
and vim about it, until the last hand is put out in the ninth innings. 
There is no delay or suspense about it, from beginning to end; and 
even if one feels disposed to leave the ground, temporarily, he will 
generally waive his desire, especially if it is a close contest, from 
fear of missing some good point or clever effort of the trial. An 
American assemblage cannot be kept in one locality for the period 
of two or three hours, without being offered something above the 
ordinary run of excitement and attraction. They are too mercurial 
and impulsive a race not to get drowsy and dissatisfied with anything 
which permits their natural ardor to droop even for a brief space of 
time. Hence their congeniality with, and partiality for, Base Ball, 
which game caters to their inclinations and desires to a nicety; in 
short, the pastime suits the people, and the people suit the pastime. 
It is also, comparatively, an economical recreation; the uniform is 
not costly, the playing implements, colors, and furnishing of a neat 
club room need not occasion an extravagant outlay when divided, 
pro rata, by the members of a full club. In aquatic organizations, 
either of Yachting or Rowing (both glorious sports), the expenses are 
necessarily heavy. The uniforms, boat-houses, and boats, all necessi- 
tate liberal disbursement, and not unfrequent renewal. Base Ball 
does not demand from its votaries too much time, or rather, too great 
a proportion of the day. In the long sunshiny days of summer, games 
are frequently commenced at four and even five o'clock in the after- 
noon, and completed some time before sunset. Consequently the great 
mass, who are in a subordinate capacity, can participate in this 
health-giving and noble pastime. The game stands today in a proud 
and fairly-won position — scarcely requiring eulogy from any source. 
Dating from the years when the old Knickerbocker Club, closely fol- 
lowed by the Gotham, Eagle, and Empire, gave their colors to the 
breeze as rallying points for the lovers of the game to muster at, it 
has grown with giant strides until its organizations are the pride of 
numberless villages, towns and cities, all over the land. Wherever 
established, it has quickly had the sentiment and good feeling of the 
community with it, and with scarcely an effort, achieved solid popu- 
larity. Having no debasing attributes, and being worthy of the pres- 
ence of the good and the refined, it has everywhere been countenanced 
and encouraged by our best citizens; and of the thousands who gather 



Origin of Base Ball 33 

at important matches, we have always noted with sincere gratifica- 
tion that the ladies constituted an honored proportion." 

In this book also we found some data highly interesting 
and doubtless authentic, owing to contemporaneousness of the 
narration. It dates the beginning of the first real base ball club, 
the Knickerbocker Club, of New York, in 1845, gives the club 
rules and the playing rules formulated by William R. Wheaton 
and William H. Tucker, the committee on by-laws of the Knicker- 
bocker Club. The first match game of record was played by the 
Knickerbockers with a picked nine, calling itself for this game, 
the New York Club. This game was played at Hoboken, N. J., 
June 19, 1846. Only four innings were played, as it must be 
remembered that under the new rule a game was won when either 
nine made 21 aces, or runs, or over on even innings. The score 
of this first game of record is given as follows: 

Knickerbocker — Turney, 1 out, runs; Adams, 1 out, runs; 
Tucker, 2 outs, runs; Birney, 1 out, 1 run; Avery, outs, runs; 
H. Anthony, 2 outs, runs; D. Anthony, 2 outs, runs; Tryon, 2 outs, 

runs; Paulding, 1 out, runs. Total: 12 outs, 1 run. 

New York — Davis, 1 out, 3 runs; Winslow, 2 outs, 2 runs; Ran- 
som, 2 outs, 3 runs; Murphy, outs, 4 runs; Case, outs, 4 runs; 
Johnson, 1 out, 2 runs; Thompson, 2 outs, 2 runs; Trenchard, 2 outs, 

1 run; Lalor, 2 outs, 2 runs. Total: 12 outs, 23 runs. 

There we have the first base ball score ever kept or pub- 
lished. Peverelly's book then details the career of the Knicker- 
bocker Club up to date of the publication of the book in 1866. 
In 1848 the club adopted the playing rule that "a player run- 
ning to first base was out if the ball was held by an adversary 
on that base before the runner reached it" — which has been in 
force ever since. In 1849 the Knickerbocker Club adopted a 
playing uniform of blue and white — ^being thus the first club to 
prescribe a base ball uniform. The second match game of base 
ball of record was played on June 3, 1851, between the Knicker- 
bocker and Washington Clubs at the Red House, in Harlem. 
The Knickerbockers won the game, 21 aces to 11. The only 
score of the game that can be found was as follows : 

Knickerbocker 3 3 3 5 1 6—21 

Washington 2 5 1 1 2 0—11 

3 



34 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

The return match between these teams, the third match 
game of Base Ball of record was played at the Elysian Fields, on 
June 17, 1 85 1, and resulted in the first extra-innings game in 
Base Ball — that is, it required 30 put-outs to make the 21 runs, or 
aces, necessary to decide a winner, as the rule making the game 
an innings affair with nine innings as the number to constitute a 
full game was not adopted until 1857. The score was published 
as follows: 

Knickerbocker — Tucker, 5 outs, 2 runs; Adams, 4 outs, 2 runs; 
Plunk ett, 3 outs, 4 runs; Talman, 6 outs, runs; Stevens, 4 outs, 2 
runs; De Bast, 3 outs, 3 runs; Rich, 1 out, 5 runs; Murray, 3 outs, 
2 runs; Davis, 1 out, 2 runs. Total: 30 outs; 22 runs. 

Washington — W. H. Vancott, 5 outs, 1 run; Trenchard, 5 outs, 2 
runs; Barnes, 2 outs, 2 runs; Bruno, 3 outs, 2 runs; Davis, 3 outs, 
2 runs; Winslow, 4 outs, 2 runs; Case, 2 outs, 4 runs; Jackson, 4 outs, 
2 runs; T. Vancott, 2 outs, 3 runs. Total: 30 outs, 20 runs. 

In 1852, 1853 and 1854, the Knickerbocker Club played five 
more match games with the Washington and Gotham Clubs. 
In 1854 the Playing Rules were revised and increased from 14 
sections to 17 sections; and, for the first time, specifications for 
the ball were adopted to the effect that it "must weigh 5 1-2 to 6 
ounces, and be from 2 3-4 to 3 1-2 inches in diameter." On June 
30, 1854, the Gotham club defeated the Knickerbocker Club, 
21-16, in 16 innings, the longest game of record to that time. 
In December, 1856, President D. L. Adams, of the Knicker- 
bocker Club, called a meeting of the Knickerbocker Club for the 
purpose of considering the advisability of calling a general Base 
Ball convention, which was the initial step which resulted in the 
organization of the "National Association of Base Ball Players" 
in New York, on March 10, 1858. In 1857 the Knickerbocker 
Club abolished the rule permitting "an out on a fly caught on 
the bound," but the other clubs around New York refused to 
follow this innovation, so the "out-on-bound rule" remained in 
force in match games and the "fly" game was played by the 
Knickerbocker Club alone, and only in practice games. After 
the organization of the National Association in 1858 the Knick- 
erbocker Club soon lost its premiership in Base Ball, and grad- 
ually settled down into isolated grandeur, owing to its inflexible 
determination to preserve its pure amateur status. 



Origin of Base Ball 35 

early clubs of base ball. 

In Peverelly's book is also given an interesting review of 
the organization of the various Base Ball clubs which followed 
in the wake of the pioneer Knickerbocker Club. These clubs 
are herewith given in the chronological order of their creation: 

Gotham Club, of New York, 1852; Eagle Club, of New York, 1854; 
Empire Club, of New York, 1854; Excelsior Club, of Brooklyn, 1854; 
Union Club, of Morrisania, N. Y., 1855; Atlantic Club, of Brooklyn, 
1855; Eckford Club, of Brooklyn, 1855; Mutual Club, of New York, 
1857; Contest Club, of Brooklyn, 1857; Liberty Club, of New Bruns- 
wick, N. J., 1857; Minerva Club, of Philadelphia, 1857; Jefeerson Club, 
of New York, 1858; Social Club, of New York, 1859; Hudson River 
Club, of Hudson, N. Y., 1859; Utica Club, of Utica, N. Y., 1859; Key- 
stone Club, of Philadelphia, 1859; National Club, of Washington, D. C, 
1859; Potomac Club, of Washington, D. C, 1859; Olympic Club, of 
Philadelphia, 1860; Athletic Club, of Philadelphia, 1860; Equity Club, 
of Philadelphia, 1860; Allegheny Club, of Allegheny, Pa., 1860; Lowell 
Club, of Lowell, Mass., 1861; Charter Oak Club, of Hartford, Conn., 
1862; Mountain Club, of Altoona, Pa., 1862; Olympic Club, of Pater- 
son, N. J., 1864; Water bury Club, of Waterbury, Conn., 1864; Eclectic 
Club, of New York, 1864; National Club, of Albany, N. Y., 1864; 
Americus Club, of Newark, N. J., 1864; Kearney Club, of Rahway, 
N. J., 1865; Eon Club, of Portland, Me., 1865; Uncas Club, of Nor- 
wich, Conn., 1865; Chester Club, of Norwich, Conn., 1865; Alert Club, 
of Danville, Pa., 1865; Alert Club, of Cumberland, Md., 1865; Louis- 
ville Club, of Louisville, Ky., 1865; UnderclifC Club, of Cold Spring, 
N. Y., 1865; Surprise Club, of West Farms, N. Y. 1865; Swiftfoot Club, 
of Philadelphia, 1866; Pioneer Club, of Portland, Ore, 1866. 

In Massachusetts a number of clubs were in existence 
before the above-named clubs were organized; but they were 
known as Town Ball clubs, and not as Base Ball clubs. In Phila- 
delphia, the Olympic Club was organized as a Town Ball club 
in 1833, and that club did not become a Base Ball club until 
i860, as mentioned in the above record of early Base Ball clubs. 
In New England, under the auspices of the Tri-Mountain Club, 
of Boston, the New England Association was organized February 
I, 1865, with Corliss Wadleigh, of Boston, as president. In 
December, 1865, also was organized at Chicago, the Northwestern 
Association, with G. Charles Smith, of Chicago, as president. 
This organization affiliated with the National Association by 
adopting its rules, and sending delegates to the annual meetings 
of the supreme body. 




Four Great Players in the Developing Period of 
Professional Base Ball 

1 — Robert Ferguson, of Brooklyn, president of the first Professional 
Association, the only active player to hold such a position. 2 — John C. 
Chapman, of Brooklyn, one of the great players who achieved fame with 
the old Atlantics. 3 — George Wright, of Boston, greatest shortstop in the 
world in the early days of the game. 4 — Adrian C. Anson, of Rockford, 
111., one of the greatest batsmen in the early days of Base Ball. 




THE FIRST LEAGUE 

aaaas; tlje ©llr '*^rafefl(s(ionaI league of diapers;/' 3Re= 
ssume ot ttje ILeague WW^ iLatti ttje Jfounbation for ^fjat 
?|as( ©ebelopeb 3nto JWobern ©rgani^etr Pall; put OTlas^ 
©esftroj^etr Cftrougfj Snabilitp of ^la|>ers( to i^obern 3t 

kROM the day that Base Ball began to 
assume form and substance, in 1845, up 
to 1857, the game was played irregu- 
larly, and without control of any kind 
until the clubs in and around New York, 
at a meeting held in New York City, Jan- 
uary 22, 1857, organized the National 
Association of Base Ball Players, embrac- 
ing sixteen New York clubs, at which a committee was appointed 
to draw up a constitution and by-laws. Affairs then languished 
until March 10, 1858, when another meeting was held at which 
organization was completed by the election of W. H. Van Cott 
as first president, the adoption of a constitution and the playing 
rules of the Knickerbocker Club, published in the opening chap- 
ter. These rules were, however, somewhat amplified, and new 
specifications for ball and bat, closely approximating those of the 
present day, were prescribed, the bat especially never having 
been changed except as to length, while the difference in the ball 
is a reduction in weight and size of half an ounce. In 1863, at a 
meeting held in New York City, the playing rules were further 
amplified, as will be seen by reference to the complete code pub- 
lished in a chapter on the "Playing Rules of Base Ball.'' From 
1 861, to the end of the Civil War, the sport languished every- 
where except among the Northern soldiers, who played it at 
every opportunity during the various campaigns. 

AFTER THE CIVIL WAR 

a convention was held in New York on December 13, 1865, at 
which 91 clubs were represented, including clubs of St. Louis, 
Chattanooga, Louisville, Washington, Boston and Philadelphia, 
thus making the organization really national, though strictly 
amateur. No schedules were adopted, each club making its own 
schedules; and virtually the sole purpose of the organization was 



38 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

to sanction rules for playing the game and to preserve its ama- 
teur status. It was not until 1866 that professionalism began to 
pervade the ranks and to raise a question that became more 
acute each year until 1870, when a split occurred that resulted 
in the formation of the first Professional Base Ball Association, 
whose brief career is epitomized in this chapter. In 1867 the 
Nationals, of Washington, D. C, under the lead of Arthur Pue 
Gorman, afterward United States Senator from Maryland, and 
with George Wright as team captain, made 

THE FIRST TRANS-ALLEGHENY TOUR, 

going as far as St. Louis. The team that made this epochal tour 
was as follows: George Wright, shortstop and captain; W. T. 
Williams, pitcher; Frank P. Norton, catcher; G. H. E. Fletcher, 
first base ; E. A. Parker, second base ; George H. Fox, third base ; 
S. L. Studley, left field; H. W. Berthrong, center field; Harry 
C. McLease, right field ; G. E. Smith, substitute. The team was 
accompanied by Colonel Frank Jones, president of the club, and 
Henry Chadwick, as official scorer. This team defeated the 
Capital City Club, of Columbus, O.; the Cincinnatis and Buck- 
eyes, of Cincinnati ; the Louisville Club, of Louisville, Ky. ; the 
Western Club, of Indianapolis; the Empire and Union Clubs, of 
St. Louis ; the Excelsiors and Atlantics, of Chicago ; and lost one 
game unexpectedly to the Forest City Club, of Rockford, 111., 
29-23, owing to inability to hit Al Spalding, the 17-year-old 
pitcher of the Forest City Club. In that year, also, the Forest City 
Club, of Rockford, 111., started the practice of paying some of 
its players salaries. In 1868 the Cincinnati Red Stocking Club 
was organized on semi-professional lines, four of the players 
being paid small salaries. In 1869 the entire team was placed 
under salary, being thus the first undisguised professional team 
of record. This team that year made a tour of the entire country 
from New York to San Francisco, between May 10 and Novem- 
ber 5, and went through the season without a defeat, playing 
65 games, of which they won all except a 17-17 tie game with 
the Haymakers, of Troy, N. Y., on August 27. This first pro- 
fessional team was made up as follows: Harry Wright, captain 
and manager; Asa Brainard, pitcher; Douglas AlHson, catcher; 
Charles Gould, first base ; Charles Sweasy, second base ; Fred 



The First League 39 

Waterman, third base; George Wright, shortstop; Andrew J. 
Leonard, left field; Harry Wright, center field; Calvin McVey, 
right field; Richard Hurley, substitute. The players were paid 
$100 per month, the season running from March 15 to Novem- 
ber 15. This team not only went through 

THE 1869 SEASON WITHOUT A DEFEAT, 

but maintained that clean record of victories until the middle of 
June in the following year, their first defeat in two seasons 
being sustained at the hands of the Atlantics, of Brooklyn, in 
the latter city on June 14, 1870, by 8 to 7, in 10 innings. The 
Cincinnati team's career attracted intense national interest and 
had a vast stimulating influence upon the sport, but especially 
upon the development of professionalism ; in fact, the Cincinnati 
Reds set the standard for base ball teams and everywhere either 
new clubs on pure professional basis were organized for the 
express purpose of meeting or defeating the Reds, and the most 
famous of the established clubs threw aside all pretence and 
disguise of amateurism or even semi-professionalism, and be- 
came full-fledged professionals — and that, too, while still mem- 
bers of the amateur National Association of Base Ball Players. 
In this matter Chicago took the lead by organizing, in 1870, the 
White Stockings on professional basis for the express purpose 
of rivaling, and if possible, defeating the Cincinnati Reds. This 
team included Meyerle and Pinkham, pitchers; Crane and Mart 
King, catchers ; McAtee, first base ; Wood, second base ; Meyerle 
or Pinkham alternating at third base ; Hodes, shortstop ; Treacey, 
Cuthbert and Flynn, outfielders. The Atlantics forestalled the 
White Stockings in the matter of first defeating the Reds, but 
the White Stockings afterward defeated the Red Stockings 
twice in succession, which killed the Cincinnati Club, as that club 
was disbanded at the end of the season of 1870, the Wright 
brothers, Gould, and McVey going to the Boston Club. 

AMATEURISM TOTTERING TO ITS FALL. 

While the game was thus developing rapidly toward a pro- 
fessional basis, there was much controversy engendered by the 
existing conditions in the National Association. There was con- 
stant contention between the founders of the Association, who 



40 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

desired to maintain it as an amateur organization, and those 
who endeavored to control the association in the interest of pro- 
fessionaHsm, and the result was a state of uncertainty, pretence 
and hypocricy which could not endure. Moreover, profession- 
alism had brought in its train betting by the public on important 
games, in which in time the players also participated. Other 
evils were secret negotiations with players by rival clubs, and 
endless contract-breaking, or "revolving," as it was then known, 
by the most-famous, and therefore most-sought, players. These 
two elements, gambling backers and contract-breaking players, 
had in time come into substantial control of the National Asso- 
ciation, and were creating conditions dangerous to the prestige 
of the sport as a national game. It was therefore a public relief 
and a future blessing to the sport, when the Cincinnati Red 
Stockings, in 1869, blazed the way for undisguised professional- 
ism, and did it so well and successfully that in the following 
year its example was followed by the new Chicago White Stock- 
ings and other prominent clubs, both East and West, thus open- 
ing the way for the creation of a purely professional associa- 
tion. This occurred in the Fall of 1870, when the National 
Association of Base Ball Players was disrupted. At the annual 
meeting a great battle was waged between the pure amateur and 
pure professional elements, and the former withdrew. At a 
meeting held in December, 1871, an effort was made to organize 
a new Amateur National Association, which was consummated 
in March, 1872, at a meeting held in New York. At this meet- 
ing seven colleges and ten amateur clubs were represented, and 
F. B. Wood, of the Champion Club, of Jersey City, was elected 
as president. This "National Association of Amateur Base Ball 
Players" died of inanition, after an innocuous existence, in 1874, 
and since that time Base Ball as a national sport has been wholly 
under professional control, although the National Amateur Ath- 
letic Union endeavors to maintain control and supervision over 
pure amateurs as part of its athletic authority. 

BIRTH OF organized BALL. 

The National Association of Professional Base Ball Play- 
ers was organized at a meeting held in New York, March 4, 
1 87 1, at which for the first time an organization was formed on 




Arthur Pue Gorman 

First Manager to Take a Base Ball Team on a 
Trans-Allegheny Tour, in 1867 



The First League 41 

sectional lines, which basis major leagues have followed from 
that day to this time. The following cities were represented: 
Boston, Brooklyn, New York, Troy, Washington and Philadel- 
phia, in the East; and Chicago, Cleveland, Port Wayne and 
Rockford, in the West. Mr. J. W. Kerns, of the Troy, N. Y., 
Haymakers, was elected as president. These ten clubs started the 
season, but only eight finished it. The playing rules of the dis- 
rupted National Association of Base Ball Players were adopted 
with but few alterations. Herewith is given a list of the after- 
wards famous players composing the teams of the first purely 
professional organization and, therefore, the first recognized 
professional players of the national game: 

Athletics, of Philadelphia — Malone, catcher; McBride, pitcher; 
Fisler, first base; Reach, second base; Meyerle, third base; Radcliff, 
shortstop; Outhbert, left field; Sensenderfer, center field; Heubell, 
right field; Berkenstock, substitute. 

Bostons, of Boston — McVey, catcher; Spalding, pitcher; Gould 
first base; Barnes, second base; Shaffer, third base; G. Wright, short- 
stop; Cone, left field; H. Wright, center field; Birdsall, right field; 
Barrows and Jackson, substitutes. 

White Stockings, of Chicago — Hodes, catcher; Zettlein, pitcher; 
McAtee, first base; Wood, second base; Pinkham, third base; Duffy, 
shortstop; Treacy, left field; Foley, center field; Simmons, right field; 
Bannock, substitute. 

Eckfords, of Brooklyn — Hicks, catcher; Martin, pitcher; Allison, 
first base; Swandell, second base; Nelson, third base; Holdsworth, 
shortstop; Gedney, left field; Shelly, center field; Chapman, right 
field; Allison, substitute. 

Forest Citys, of Cleveland — J. White, catcher; Pratt, pitcher; Car- 
le ton, first base; Kimball, second base; Sutton, third base; Bass, 
shortstop; Pabor, left field; Allison, center field; E. White, right field. 

Forest Citys, of Rockford — Hastings, catcher; Fisher, pitcher; 
Mack, first base; Addy, second base; Anson, third base; Fulmer, 
shortstop; Ham, left field; Bird, center field; Stires, right field. 

Haymakers, of Troy — McGeary, catcher; McMullin, pitcher; 
Flynn, first base; Craver, second base; Bellan, third base; Flowers, 
shortstop; King, left field; Yorke, center field; Pike, right field. 

Kekiongas, of Fort Wayne — Lennon and Quinn, catchers; Mathews, 
pitcher; Foran, first base; Carey, second base; Williams, third base; 
Goldsmith, shortstop; Mincher, left field; Armstrong, center field; 
Kelly, right field; Hallinan and Dean, substitutes. 

Mutuals, of New York — C. Mills, catcher; Wolters, pitcher; Start, 
first base; Ferguson, second base; Smith, third base; Pearce, short- 
stop; Hatfield, left field; Eggler, center field; Patterson, right field; 
Higham, substitute. 



42 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Olympics, of Washington — ^Allison, catcher: Brainard, pitcher; 
Mills, first base; Sweasy, second base; Waterman, third base; Force, 
shortstop; Leonard, left field; Hall, center field; Berthrong, right field; 
Glenn, substitute. 

DECLINE AND DEATH OF THE ASSOCIATION. 

At the first annual meeting of the National Association of 
Professional Ball Players, held at Cleveland, in March, 1872, 
Robert Ferguson, of the Brooklyn Atlantics, was elected as 
president of the Association, and it was declared as the policy 
of the Association not to permit anyone not a professional 
ball player to hold office. Eleven clubs were represented at 
the meeting and entered teams in the race. In 1873 Robert 
Ferguson was re-elected as president of the Association, and 
in this year only nine clubs entered teams in the race. In 1874 
eight clubs entered the race, but Chicago was the only Western 
city represented, and afifairs were so loosely conducted that 96 
of the 232 scheduled games were not played at all. In this year 
a ten-men and ten-innings rule was adopted and the scheme was 
tried of adding a second shortstop to the infield between first 
and second bases. The experiment was short-lived, however, as 
the public failed to approve of it and the rule was rescinded before 
the race began. In 1875, thirteen clubs entered in the race, 
which proved to be the last one of the first Professional Asso- 
ciation, as so many flagrant abuses, due to gambling and 
contract-breaking, had entrenched themselves in the organiza- 
tion that leading men in the organization who were not players, 
but business men, decided to withdraw and to organize a new 
league from the formation and government of which active 
players should be eliminated. This led to the organization of 
the National League, and the death of the first Professional 
Association at the end of the season of 1875. Following is the 
playing record of the Professional Association during its com- 
paratively brief span of life: 

SEASON OF 1 87 1. 

The first meeting of the Professional Association was held 
in New York City, and the following clubs were the original 
members of the organization in 1871 : Athletics, of Philadelphia ; 
Boston, Chicago, Forest City, of Cleveland; Forest City, of 



The First League 



43 



Rockford; Haymakers, of Troy; Kekiongas, of Fort Wayne; 
Mutual, of New York, and Olympics, of Washington. The 
Kekionga Club disbanded in July, and the Eckford Club, of 
Brooklyn, filled the vacancy, but its games were not counted. 
The Athletic Club won the championship with this team: Mc- 
Bride and Malone, battery; Fisler, Reach and Meyerle, base- 
men; Radcliff, shortstop; Cuthbert, Sensenderfer and Heubell 
in the outfield; Bechtel and Pratt, substitutes; Hicks Hayhurst, 
manager. The game that decided the championship was played 
on the Union Grounds, Brooklyn (the Chicagos being homeless 
owing to the destruction of Chicago by fire), on October 30. 
The Athletics, with McBride pitching against Zettlein, defeated 
Chicago and won the championship, by 4 to i. In this game the 
Athletics were without the services of Sensenderfer, Reach and 
Pratt, Berkenstock playing right field. The Chicagos had their 
full team in the field except Pinkham, for whom Bannock played 
third base. Levi Meyerle, of the Athletics, led all batsmen in 
batting, with .403. The record for the season was : 



Club. W. L. 

Athletic 22 7 

Boston 22 10 

Chicago 20 9 

Mutual 17 18 

Olympic 16 15 



Club. W. L. 

Haymakers 15 15 

Cleveland 10 19 

Kekiongas 7 21 

Rockford 6 21 



SEASON OF 1872. 

In 1872, the Association was composed of the Athletic 
Club, Boston Club, Atlantic and Eckford Clubs, of Brooklyn; 
Lord Baltimore Club, National and Olympic Clubs, of Wash- 
ington; Forest City, of Cleveland; Haymakers, of Troy; Mu- 
tual, of New York; and Mansfield Club, of Middletown, Conn. 
The last-named club disbanded during the season. The Boston 
Club won the championship with the following team: Spalding 
and McVey, battery; Gould, Barnes and Schafer on the bases; 
George Wright, shortstop; Leonard, Harry Wright and Rogers 
in the outfield; and Birdsall and Ryan substitutes. Harry 
Wright, manager. Roscoe Barnes, of Boston, led the batsmen, 
with .374. The record for the season was : 



Club. W. L. 

Boston 39 8 

Baltimore 34 19 



Club. 
Cleveland 
Mansfield 



w. 


L. 


6 


15 


5 


19 



44 



Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



Mutual 34 20 

Athletic 30 14 

Troy 15 10 

Atlantic 8 27 



Eckford 3 26 

Olympic 2 7 

National 11 



season of 1873. 

In 1873, the membership comprised the Boston Club, Ath- 
letic Club, the new Philadelphia Club, National Club, of Wash- 
ington; Baltimore and Maryland Clubs, of Baltimore; Mutual 
Club, of New York; Atlantic Club, of Brooklyn, and Resolute 
Club, of New Jersey. The Boston Club again won the cham- 
pionship, with 43 victories and 16 defeats; and the Philadelphia 
Club was second, with 36 victories and 17 defeats. The cham- 
pion team was: Spalding and White, battery; James O'Rourke, 
Barnes and Schafer on the bases; George Wright, shortstop; 
Leonard, Harry Wright and Manning, outfielders; Birdsall and 
Sweasy, substitutes; Harry Wright, manager. Bob Addy took 
Manning's place in the latter part of the season. Roscoe Barnes, 
of Boston, again led the batsmen, with .338. The record was: 



Club. W. L. 

Boston 43 16 

Philadelphia 36 17 

Baltimore 33 22 

Mutual 29 24 

Athletic 28 23 



Club. W. L. 

Atlantic 17 17 

Washington 8 31 

Resolute 2 21 

Maryland 5 



SEASON OF 1874. 

In 1874, the Chicago Club, which had been knocked out of 
existence by the great fire of 1871, re-entered the arena. The 
membership this year comprised the Boston, Athletic, Mutual, 
Chicago, Atlantic, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Hartford Clubs. 
The Washington, Resolute and Maryland Clubs dropped out. 
Boston again won the championship, with 52 victories and 18 
defeats. The Mutuals were second, 42-23; Athletics third, 33- 
23. The winning team was: Spalding and McVey, battery; 
James White, Barnes and Schafer on the bases ; George Wright, 
shortstop; Leonard, Hall and James O'Rourke in the outfield; 
Harry Wright and Beals, substitutes, and Harry Wright, man- 
ager. In this year an additional player in the way of another 
shortstop in the infield was added, and the game was lengthened 
to ten innings. The innovation was so unpopular that it was 
summarily rescinded before the championship race started. John 




Harry Wright 

Organizer and Manager of the First Pure Professional 
Base Ball Club 



The First League 



45 



McMullin, of the Athletics, led the batsmen, with .387. 
full record: 



Club. W. L. 

Boston 52 18 

Mutual 42 23 

Athletic 33 23 

Philadelphia 29 29 



Club. W. 

Chicago 27 

Atlantic 23 

Hartford 17 

Baltimore 9 



The 



L. 
31 
32 
37 

38 



SEASON OF 1875. 

This proved to be the last year of the Professional Asso- 
ciation, which had become permeated with dishonesty in the 
ranks, and therefore unpopular with the public. Thirteen clubs 
competed for the championship, St. Louis being the only one 
of the new entries that did not disband before the season closed. 
The clubs were the Athletic, Philadelphia and Centennial Clubs, 
of Philadelphia; Boston, Chicago, Mutual, Atlantic, Hartford, 
St. Louis, New Haven, Red Stockings, of St. Louis; Washing- 
ton, and Westerns, of Keokuk, la. The Bostons again won the 
championship, with 71 victories and eight defeats. The Ath- 
letics were second, with 53 victories and 20 defeats. The cham- 
pion Boston team was: Spalding and White, battery; McVey, 
Barnes and Schafer on the bases; George Wright, shortstop; 
Leonard, James O'Rourke and Manning in the outfield; Harry 
Wright and Beals, substitutes; Harry Wright, manager. Hel- 
fert and Latham each played first base during part of the sea- 
son. Roscoe Barnes, of Boston, led the batsmen, with .386. The 
record for the final season was : 



Club. 
New Haven . . 
Red Stockings 
Washington . . 
Centennial . . . 

Atlantic 

Western 



77. 


L. 


7 


39 


4 


14 


4 


22 


2 


13 


2 


42 


1 


12 



Club. W. L. 

Boston 71 8 

Athletic 53 20 

Hartford 54 28 

St. Louis 39 29 

Philadelphia 37 31 

Chicago 30 37 

Mutual 29 38 

The Centennials played but few games, and their brief ex- 
istence is only noteworthy for the fact that with them began the 
sale of players, a custom that has grown to tremendous propor- 
tions since. The Centennial Club contained but two first-class 
players — Craver and Bechtel. The rival Athletic Club, of Phila- 
delphia, wanted these two, and two wealthy members of the 



46 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

club paid an official of the Centennial Club $1500 to have the 
two players released and transferred to the Athletic Club. This 
was done, and shortly after the Centennial Club disbanded. It 
was a peculiar fact that the first sale of players brought retri- 
bution with it, as Craver turned out to be crooked, and Bechtel 
took Anson's place so of.ten that the latter became dissatisfied 
and later seceded to the Chicago Club. The season of 1875 was 
the last of the Professional Association, as in the Spring of 
1876 the National League was organized. 

A tour of ENGLAND. 

The comparatively brief existence of the Professional Base 
Ball Association was made memorable by the fact that under its 
auspices Base Ball was taken to foreign lands for the first time. 
In 1874 two professional Base Ball teams went to England and 
gave exhibitions of our then just developing game in various 
parts of the United Kingdom. The two clubs were the Bostons 
and Athletics, and they sailed from Philadelphia on the steam- 
ship "Ohio," on July 16, arriving in Liverpool on July 27. The 
team which represented the former club contained Spalding, 
George Wright, Harry Wright, O'Rourke, Sam Wright, Barnes, 
Shafer, Leonard, Hall, McVey, Beals and Kent, the latter being 
the first baseman of the Harvard College team. On the Ath- 
letic team were Anson, Sutton, McBride, Battin, Gedney, Fisler, 
Clapp, McGeary, McMullin, Murnane and Sensenderfer. The 
two teams played 14 games of Base Ball in England, and attracted 
much attention by their brilliant fielding. Cricketers said that 
they never saw such field plays before, and they considered it 
really wonderful. Out of the 14 games played the Bostons won 
eight and the Athletics six, the contests taking place at Liver- 
pool, London, Dublin, Manchester and Sheffield. The base ball 
men returned on the steamer "Abbots ford," leaving Liverpool 
on August 27, and reaching Philadelphia on September 9. Dur- 
ing the trip in England the Americans played cricket with sev- 
eral crack English clubs and did unusually well, winning games 
from Princes, Surrey and Marylebone clubs in London, the 
Manchester Club, in Sheffield, and the All-Ireland Club in 
Dublin. 



:^^.i 



■.%;3^""^ft^.. 




William H. Hulbebt 

The Chicago Leader Who Founded the National League 
in 1876 



(Reproduced from Spalding's "America's National Game.") 




NATIONAL LEAGUE 

Wbt ^otoer laaiiicJ) ^abeb ttje (Same, ^feetcfi of tfte ©r= 
gani^ation tICfjat J^esJcueb Pas(e pall Jfrom ®ecap anli 
Cfjreateneb ©eatfj; Cbolbeb a i9etd Jfunbamental passisJ 
of Operation; anb ^laceb 3t ©n a Jfirm Jpountration. 

I HE National League was formed in the 
Spring of 1876 to take the place of the 
Professional Association of Base Ball 
Players, which had fallen into disrepute 
owing to the predominance of the gam- 
bling element in it; and this organization 
marked a new era in Base Ball, inasmuch 
as the new organization lifted the game 
out of the slough into which it had fallen, purged it of every- 
thing that was dishonest, and made it popular and respected. 
It had a hard struggle for existence for some years, but held 
fast to its guiding principle — honest sport — and finally emerged 
from the darkness of doubt into the full light of success and 
prosperity, went to the front as the premier base ball league, and 
has ever since maintained its place at the head of the base ball 
world, although many times hard pressed by rivals and enemies. 
The National League was organized February 2, 1876, in New 
York City, by delegates from the following professional clubs: 
Athletic, of Philadelphia; Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Hart- 
ford, Louisville, Mutual, of New York City; and St. Louis^j,. 
The meeting was the result of the labors of the late William A. 
Hulbert, of Chicago, who, in the Fall of 1875, conceived the 
plan of a new league, and with the assistance of A. G. Spalding, 
formulated the document which afterwards became the constitu- 
tion of the new league and was instrumental in uprooting the 
abuses that were killing the game. Mr. Hulbert has been justly 
acclaimed the "Father of the League," because to his great 
labors alone the organization and maintenance of the League 
were due. This was acknowledged by the League in 1882, when 
Mr. Hulbert died, in the following resolution : "Resolved, That 
to him alone is due the credit of having founded the National 
League, and to his able leadership, sound judgment and impar- 



48 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

tial management is the success of the League chiefly due." 
At the organization meeting, Hon. Morgan G. Bulkeley, later 
Governor of Connecticut, was chairman, and Harry Wright, 
secretary. The constitution prepared by Mr. Hulbert was 
adopted with slight changes. Mr. Bulkeley, of Hartford, Conn., 
was elected president, and N. E. Young, secretary. The salary 
attached to the latter office, held by Mr. Young continuously to 
1885, was $400, but thereafter it became $4000. The new con- 
stitution completely changed the Base Ball system. The League, 
from being an association of players, became a league of clubs; 
no city with less than 75,000 population, nor less than five miles 
from any other city, could be admitted; a form of players' con- 
tract was adopted, which prevented clubs robbing one another; 
and stringent rules were adopted against contract-breaking, 
game-selling, gambling and liquor selling on club grounds, and 
the buying of pool-tickets on ball games by ball players. Thus 
was laid upon solid lines at the start the senior Base Ball league 
of the world. 

STORY OF THE ORGANIZATION. 

f Apropos to the above concise description of the causes and 
motives that led to the organization of the National League, the 
following article on the first meeting of the National League 
is quite interesting, as it was written for the League Guide of 
1877 by the late Henry Chadwick, the "Father of Base Ball," 
and the first and greatest writer on Base Ball of that now remote 
period: The close of the professional Base Ball season in 1875 
left anything but a desirable condition of things prevailing in 
the then existing National Professional Association. That bane 
of all sports, pool gambling, had found an opening for its poi- 
sonous influence in the ranks of the fraternity, and the old 
National Association found itself powerless to drive it out of 
the Base Ball body politic. In fact, the time was ripe for needed 
reformatory measures, and the best men in the legislative coun- 
cils of the fraternity deemed it proper to take the initiative ih 
a strenuous effort to improve the morale of the professional 
ranks, and to raise the stock company club business up to the 
plane of honorable work, alike in the clubs as on the fields. 
With this object in view, a preliminary meeting of the Western 
base ball men was held at Louisville, Ky., in January, 1876, at 



National League 49 

which time the first steps were taken towards the organization 
of the National League. There were present at this meeting 
Messrs. W. A. Hulbert, A. G. Spalding and Louis Meacham, of 
Chicago; Charles A. Fowle, of St. Louis; Charles E. Chase, of 
Louisville; and John A. Joyce, of Cincinnati. The outcome of 
this preliminary meeting at Louisville was the appointment of a 
special committee, which was given the power to confer with 
representatives of all the clubs desirous of taking part in the 
reform work.i What the objects in view were are sufficiently 
expressed in the circular letter of the committee sent to the 
clubs in question, which we append: 

Chicago, January 23, 1876. 
The undersigned have been appointed by the Chicago, Cincinnati, 
Louisville and St. Louis Clubs a committee to confer with you on 
matters of interest to the game at large, with a special reference to 
the reformation of existing abuses, and the formation of a new asso- 
ciation, and we are clothed with full authority in writing from the 
above-named clubs to bind them to any arrangement we may make 
with you. We therefore invite your club to send a representative, 
clothed with like authority, to meet us at the Grand Central Hotel, 
in the city of New York, on Wednesday, the second day of February 
next, at 12 M. After careful consideration of the needs of the pro- 
fessional clubs, the organizations we represent are of the firm belief 
that existing circumstances demand prompt and vigorous action by 
those who are the natural sponsors of the game. It is the earnest 
recommendation of our constituents that all past troubles and differ- 
ence be ignored and forgotten, and that the conference we propose 
shall be a calm, friendly and deliberate discussion, looking solely to 
the general good of the clubs who are calculated to give character 
and permanency to the game. We are confident that the propositions 
we have to submit will meet with your approval and support, and 
we shall be pleased to meet you at the time and place above men- 
tioned. Yours respectfully, 

W. A. HULBERT, 
CHAS. A. FOWLE. 

This circular letter was sent to the Bostons, Hartfords, 
Athletics, of Philadelphia, and Mutuals, of New York. The 
effect of the above circular was a gathering of duly accredited 
representatives of the Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Louis- 
ville clubs of the West, for which Messrs. W. A. Hulbert and 
Charles A. Fowle were empowered to act; and of the Athletic, 
Boston, Mutual and Hartford clubs, of the East, respectively 
4 



50 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

represented by G. W. Thompson, N. T. Apollonio, W. H. Cam- 
meyer, and M. G. Bulkeley; the meeting in question being held 
at the Grand Central Hotel in New York, on February 2, 1876. 
Mr. Bulkeley acted as chairman, and Harry Wright, of the Bos- 
ton Club, as secretary. The Western committee, who had 
inaugurated the reform movement, came prepared with a consti- 
tution and by-laws, which were adopted with but slight altera- 
tions. Under this new constitution important changes were 
introduced in the government of the new association, the first of 
which made it a league of clubs, instead of, as before, an asso- 
ciation of players. Then, too, the entrance fee for membership 
was changed from $10 to $100. In addition, no club could be 
admitted to membership from any city of less than 75,000 inhab- 
itants, nor from any town within less than five miles from the 
locale of a League club, this latter clause giving for the first 
time proprietary rights over the city the club represented. 

features of the organization. 

/ The new League was governed by a board of five directors, 
who had charge of the affairs of the organization. Special rules 
governing the engagement of regular players were adopted for the 
first time, the same being in the form of written contracts. This 
at once put a stop to the "revolving" which had previously been 
indulged in with impunity. The expulsion of a player from a 
club cut him off from employment in any League club until he 
was reinstated. All players expelled for proved dishonesty were 
forever debarred from future employment in any League club. 
Thus was the needed reform in the business of running stock 
company professional clubs duly inaugurated. The first presi- 
dent of the League was M. G. Bulkeley, who, together with 
Messrs. Apollonio, Cammeyer, Fowle and Chase, comprised the 
first Board of Directors, they representing the Hartford, Bos- 
ton, Mutual, St. Louis, and Louisville clubs. N. E. Young was 
elected secretary at a salary of $400 a year. All the clubs of the 
newly-formed League formally resigned from the "National 
Association of Professional Base Ball Players," and that Asso- 
ciation thus became a defunct institution. The playing rules 
of the League for 1876 admitted of a substitute entering a game 
prior to the fourth inning. A special rule rendered any player 



National League 51 

interested in a bet on the game, or who had purchased a pool 
ticket on the contest, subject to prompt expulsion. The pitcher 
occupied a position six feet square, and he was required to 
deliver the ball "with the arm swinging nearly perpendicular at 
the side of the body" and the arm, being swung forward, had 
to pass below the line of his hip. This was designed to prevent 
the underhand throw, but it failed of its object. Virtually nine 
unfair balls were allowed to be delivered before the batsman 
was given his base on called balls. There was no rule in the code 
that year prohibiting the fair foul hit. There was then no special 
staff of umpires, and the result was constant wrangling about 
selecting umpires for match games, five names having to be sub- 
mitted, from which list a choice was to be made. Altogether, 
although the new code was an improvement over the old one, 
the amended rules were lacking in many essential points^ 

THE teams of the INITIAL RACE. 

The official list of League Club players for 1876, as pub- 
lished in the League Guide of that year, follows: 

Athletics (of Philadelphia)— A. J. Reach, A. Knight, W. D. Fisler, 
W. Fouser, *D. W. Force, E. B. Sutton, G. W. Hall, *D. Eggler and 
*L. Meyerle. 

Boston— *H. Wright, J. E. Borden, T. McGinley, T. Murnane, T. 
I. Beals, H. C. Schaefer, *A. J. Leonard, J. O'Rourke, J. F. Manning, 
F. T. Whitney, W. R. Parks and George Wright. Manager, *H. Wright. 

Chicago— A. G. Spalding, J. White, C. A. McVey, R. C. Barnes, 
A, C. Anson, J. P. Peters, P. A. Hines, O. Bielaski, J. W. Glenn, J. F. 
Cone, *R. Addy and F. H. Andrus. Manager and Captain, A. G. 
Spalding. 

Cincinnati— C. H. Gould, S. J. Fields, W. C. Fisher, C. J. Sweasy, 
H. Kessler, C. Snyder, C. W. Jones, R. Clack, D. P. Pierson and A. S. 
Booth. Manager, C. H. Gould. 

Hartford — *Robert Ferguson, D. Allison, W. A. Cummings, Thos. 
Bond, E. Mills, J. J. Burdock, T. Carey, T. York, J. J. Remsen, P. Cas- 
sidy, R. Higham and W. H. Harbidge. Manager and Captain, * Rob- 
ert Ferguson. 

Louisville — J. C. Chapman, J. A. Devlin, W. Scott Hastings, C. 
Snyder, *W. L. Hague, J. Gerhardt, C. Fulmer, A. A. Allison, J. C. 
Carbine, G. Bechtel and J. J. Ryan. Manager, J. C. Chapman. 

Mutual (of New York)— * Robert Mathews, N. W. Hicks, J. Start, 
*James Hallinan, A. H. Nichols, E. Booth, J. J. Shandley, W. J. Boyd 
and W. H. Graver. Manager, *W. H. Cammeyer. 



52 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

St. Louis— G. W. Bradley, L. Pike, *E. E. Cuthbert, J. V. Battin, 
R. J. Peake, J. W. Blong, *D. McGee (Mack), Thomas P. Miller, *H. 
T. Dehlman, M. H. McGeary and *Jolin E. Clapp. Manager, *S. M. 
Grafeen. 

*Deceased. 

The officers of the above clubs were as follows: Athletic — 
Thomas J. Smith, president; A. H. Wright, secretary. Boston 
— N. T. Apollonio, president ; Harry Wright, secretary. Chicago 
— W. A. Hulbert, president; A. G. Spalding, secretary. Cin- 
cinnati — J. L. Keck, president; G. H. Van Vorhees, secretary. 
Hartford — M. G. Bulkeley, president; W. F. Hilton, secretary. 
Louisville — W. N. Haldeman, president; G. K. Speed, secre- 
tary. Mutual — W. H. Cammeyer, president and secretary. St. 
Louis — J. R. C. Lucas, president; Charles A. Fowle, secretary. 
Of the above list of players, those in active service in the field 
10 years afterward, were: Knight, Sutton, Force, Eggler, Man- 
ning, O'Rourke, Anson, White, Hines, Jones, Burdock, York, 
Remsen, Harbidge, Snyder, Gerhardt, Matthews, Start and 
Battin. Of the delegates who were present at the first meetings 
in Louisville and New York, only A. G. Spalding is still iden- 
tified with the game. 

THE initial season OF 1876. 

We now give a concise review of the continuous campaigns 
of the National League as compiled and published in Sporting 
Life some years ago and now brought up to date of the publi- 
cation of this History and Records of Base Ball. In the 
initial season of 1876, the Chicago, Hartford, St. Louis, Boston, 
Louisville, Mutual, Athletic and Cincinnati Clubs contested the 
first regularly defined schedule of championship games. The 
clubs were managed as follows: Chicago, by A. G. Spalding; 
Hartford, by Robert Ferguson; St. Louis, by S. M. Graffen; 
Boston, by Harry Wright; Louisville, by J. C. Chapman; 
Mutual, by W. H. Cammeyer; the Athletics by Al H. Wright, 
and Cincinnati, by C. H. Gould. Each club was required to play 
10 games with every other club. The Chicagos won the cham- 
pionship. The season's record was: 
Club. W. L. Pet. Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chieago 52 14 .788 Louisville 30 36 .455 

St. Louis 45 19 .703 Mutual 21 35 .375 

Hartford 47 21 .691 Athletie 14 45 .237 

Boston 39 31 .557 Cineinnati 9 56 .135 




The Eight National League Presidents in 38 Years of Existence 

1— Morgan G. Bulkeley, first president, 1876. 2— William H. Hulbert, 
second president, 1877-1882. 3— A. G. Mills, third president, 1883-1884. 
4— N E. Young, fourth president, 1885-1901. 5— Harry C. Pulliam, fifth 
president, 1903-1908. 6— John A. Heydler, sixth president, 1909. 7— 
Ihomas J. Lynch, seventh president, 1910-1913. 8— John K. Tener, 
eighth president, 1914. 



National League 53 

The champion Chicago team was as follows: A. G. Spald- 
ing, pitcher and manager; James White, catcher; McVey, 
Barnes and Anson on the bases ; Peters, shortstop ; Glenn, Hines 
and Addy in the outfield. Roscoe Barnes, of the Chicago Club, 
led the League batsmen with 403. 

THE SEASON OF 1 877. 

At the annual meeting of the National League, December 
7, 1876, the Athletic and Mutual Clubs were expelled for their 
failure to make a second Western trip and complete their sched- 
ule of championship contests. The remaining six clubs con- 
tested for the championship in 1877, but the Cincinnati Club 
failed to pay its annual dues and thereby forfeited its member- 
ship, and its games were thrown out. Mr. Hulbert was elected 
president to succeed Mr. Bulkeley. The League for this season 
also agreed to pay umpires $5 per game. It was also agreed 
to respect all contracts with players of non-League clubs. The 
season was a financial failure everywhere, and the outlook for 
the game and the League was dark; but firmness and skill saved 
the League and with it the game, and even through the dark 
days of 1877 was laid the foundation for the future great suc- 
cess of the League. The event of the season, and the most 
important in its future bearing upon Base Ball, was the expul- 
sion of A. H. Nichols, William H. Craver, George Hall and 
James A. Devlin by the Louisville Club for selling games. These 
men were never reinstated, although great pressure was brought 
to bear at times in their behalf. The Louisville Club was the 
first club that had the courage to grapple with the gambling evil, 
and this action had the effect of putting a complete check to dis- 
honest ball playing. The Boston team this season won the cham- 
pionship. The record was: 
Club. W. L. Pet. Club. W. L. Pet. 



Boston 31 17 .648 

Louisville 28 20 .583 

Hartford 24 24 .500 



St. Louis 19 29 .396 

Chieago 18 30 .375 

Cineinnati 19 53 .268 



The champion team was: Bond, pitcher; Brown, catcher; 
James White, George Wright and Morrill on the bases; Sut- 
ton, shortstop; Leonard, James O'Rourke and Schaefer in the 
outfield ; Will White, substitute ; Harry Wright, manager. James 
L. White led the League batsmen, with .385. 



54 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

THE season of 1 878. 

At the annual meeting, the Cincinnati Club was reinstated, 
the St. Louis and Louisville Clubs resigned and Hartford was 
dropped. Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Providence were admit- 
ted. This left but six clubs to compete for the championship, 
which was again won by Boston. The record follows: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 41 19 .707 

Cincinnati 37 23 .617 

Providence 33 27 .550 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 30 30 .500 

Indianapolis 24 36 .400 

Milwaukee 15 45 .250 



The champion team this season was composed as follows: 
Bond, pitcher; Snyder, catcher; Morrill, Burdock and Sutton, 
on the bases; George Wright, shortstop; Leonard, James 
O'Rourke and Manning in the outfield. The batsmen of the 
League were led by Abner Dalrymple, of Milwaukee, with .356. 

THE season of 1 879. 

This season showed considerable improvement, financially, 
over the two preceding seasons. Eight clubs competed for the 
championship, Buffalo and Cleveland taking the places of Mil- 
waukee and Indianapolis in the West, while Troy and Syracuse 
were added to the Eastern circuit. George Wright left the Bos- 
ton Club this year, taking O'Rourke with him, and joined the 
Providence team, which, under Wright's captaincy, won the 
championship. The record was : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Providence 55 23 .705 

Boston 49 29 .628 

Chicago 44 32 .579 

Buffalo 44 32 .579 



Club. W. 

Cincinnati 38 

Cleveland 24 

Troy 19 

Syracuse 15 



L. 


Pet. 


36 


.514 


53 


.312 


56 


.253 


47 


.242 



The champion team was: Ward, pitcher; Brown, catcher; 
Start, McGeary and Hague on the bases ; George Wright, short- 
stop; York, Hines and James O'Rourke in the outfield. George 
Wright was manager. The batsmen were led by Anson, of Chi- 
cago, with .407. During the season Al McKinnon was expelled 
from the League for failure to fulfill his contract with the Syra- 
cuse Club. The season was also notable for the first introduction 
of the Reserve Rule, which was adopted by the League upon 
motion of Mr. A. H. Soden, of the Boston Club. Under the 



National League 55 

terms of this rule, each club was permitted to reserve five men 
for 1880. In this year also the admission rate was fixed per- 
petually at 50 cents. 

THE SEASON OF iSSo. 

In this year the Worcester team took the place of the dis- 
banded Syracuse team. The season was principally notable for 
the attempt of the League to eradicate the evil of drunkenness 
and other dissipations among the players; the constitution being 
amended so as to permit clubs to suspend players during the sea- 
son without pay, and to also suspend them for the following 
season for infraction of the rules. At a special meeting held at 
Rochester, February 26, 1880, another important move was made, 
with a view to checking the growing practice of negotiating with 
players before the close of a playing season. All the clubs agreed 
not to negotiate with any players for 1881 prior to October 2^. 
A rule was adopted prohibiting the playing of games on Sun- 
day — which rule remained in rigid effect until 1892. The Chi- 
cagos won the championship for this season. The record was : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 67 17 .708 

Providence 52 32 .619 

Cleveland 47 37 .559 

Troy 41 42 .494 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Worcester 40 43 .482 

Boston 40 44 .474 

Buffalo 24 58 .293 

Cincinnati 21 59 .263 



The champion team was composed of Corcoran and Gold- 
smith, pitchers ; Flint, catcher ; Anson, Quest and Williamson, on 
the bases; Burns, shortstop; Dalrymple, Gore and Kelly in the 
outfield; A. C. Anson, manager. George Gore, of Chicago, led 
the League batsmen, with .365. 

THE SEASON OF 1 88 1. 

In this year Cincinnati withdrew from the League owing to 
the adoption of a new rule by the National League, prohibiting 
the sale of liquor on League grounds. Detroit took the place 
of Cincinnati. The League at its annual meeting also passed 
a resolution never to reinstate the blacklisted crooks, Devlin, 
Hall, Nichols and Craver. The Chicagos this season, under 
Anson's management, again won the championship with the same 
team as in 1880, with the addition of Andy Piercy as substitute. 
The record follows : 



56 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 56 28 .667 

Providence 47 37 .559 

Buffalo 45 38 .542 

Detroit 41 43 .488 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Troy 39 45 .464 

Boston 38 45 .458 

Cleveland 36 48 .429 

Worcester 32 50 .390 



Anson, of Chicago, once more came to the head of the 
League batsmen, with a percentage of .399. In this year was 
repealed the rule permitting runners to be put out while return- 
ing to first base on called foul balls — a rule which had greatly- 
handicapped base running. In this year also, the pitching dis- 
tance was lengthened from 45 feet to 50 feet. 

THE SEa'sON of 1 882. 

This year there was no change in the circuit, and Chicago, 
under Manager Anson, won the championship for the third suc- 
cessive season, with precisely the same team as in the two pre- 
ceding seasons. The record was: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 55 29 .655 

Providence 52 32 .619 

Buffalo 45 39 .536 

Boston 45 39 .536 



Club. W. 

Cleveland 42 

Detroit 42 

Troy 35 

Worcester 18 



L. 


Pet. 


40 


.512 


41 


.506 


48 


.422 


66 


.214 



The memorable events of the season were the death of 
President Hulbert, founder of the League, in Chicago, April 10, 
and the expulsion of Umpire Higham, at a special meeting in 
June, on charge of collusion with pool gamblers, preferred by 
the Detroit Club. President Hulbert was born in Burlington 
Flats, N. Y., October 23, 1832, went to Chicago with his parents 
in 1834, was educated at Beloit College, and in 1850 entered upon 
a successful business career. He did not become connected with 
Base Ball until 1875, when he attended the National Association 
convention in New York as a delegate of the Chicago Club. At 
that convention he became so strongly imbued with the necessity 
for reform in the government of the game that he conceived the 
plan of the National League, which he carried out in the follow- 
ing year. He was a man of striking individuality, strong convic- 
tions, great force of character, and original in his ideas. No 
president was then elected to succeed Mr. Hulbert, Mr. A. H. 
Soden serving as the chairman of the League for balance of 
the year. This year Daniel Brouthers, of Buffalo, led the League 
batsmen, with .367. In this year the three-feet line beside the 




Famous National League Players of the '80s 

1— A. C. Anson, first base. 2— Fred Pfeffer, second base. 3— Wil- 
liam Nash, third base. 4 — Ed Williamson, shortstop. 5^ — George Wood, 
left field. 6 — James Fogarty, centre field. 7 — Sam Thompson, right field. 
8 — Mike Kelly, catcher. 



National League 57 

first base path was adopted; and the umpire was forbidden to 
reverse any decision in any case involving only judgment. 

THE SEASON OF 1883. 

The season was an eventful one in the history of the League, 
because it marked the beginning of an era of power and pros- 
perity for the organization. Not only was there a big boom in 
the attendance, but the League materially strengthened its circuit 
by dropping the small towns, Troy and Worcester, and admit- 
ting in their places the great cities of New York and Philadel- 
phia, who secured, respectively, the Troy and Worcester players. 
One of the most able men ever connected with Base Ball, A. G. 
Mills, was elected President of the League; Herman Doescher 
was expelled upon charges of dishonorable conduct preferred by 
the Detroit Club; and 15 players, suspended for minor offenses, 
were reinstated. This season was also notable for the adop- 
tion of the Tripartite Agreement — afterwards the famous 
National Agreement — ^by the National League, American Asso- 
ciation and Northwestern League, for the purpose of checking 
the prevailing system of player-piracy and many double-con- 
tract transactions. A. G. Mills was chairman, and O. P. Caylor, 
secretary of the Arbitration Committee, under the Tripartite 
Agreement. The record of the season's campaign was : 

Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 63 35 .643 

Chicago 59 39 .602 

Providence 58 47 .592 

Cleveland 55 42 .567 



Club. 

Buffalo 

New York 


W. 
. . . . 52 
46 


L. 

45 
50 

58 
81 


Pet. 
.536 
.479 


Detroit 

Philadelphia .... 


. . . . 40 
. . . . 17 


.408 
.173 



The champion team of Boston was composed of Whitney 
and Buffington, pitchers; Hines and Hackett, catchers; Morrill, 
Burdock and Sutton, on the bases; White, shortstop; Hornung, 
Smith and Radford in the outfield; and John F. Morrill, man- 
ager. In this year the National League abolished the "out on 
first foul bound catch," thus making the game a fly-catch game 
entirely. The League batsmen were again led by Brouthers, 
with .371. In this year for the first time in history a regular 
staff of umpires at fixed salaries was appointed by the League, 
the umpires chosen being S. M. Decker, Frank Lane, W. E. Fur- 
long and A. T. Odlin. 



58 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

the season of 1 884. 

There was no change in League membership. The year was 
notable for the organization of the Union Association for the 
purpose of waging war upon the Reserve Rule. A special chap- 
ter is devoted to this first war, and it need not, therefore, be 
enlarged upon here. The existence of the Union Association 
outside the pale of the National Agreement led to a great deal of 
contract- jumping, and one club — Cleveland — suffered so severely 
from the mid-season desertion of Glasscock, McCormick and 
Briody — and the desertion at the start of the season of Dunlap 
and Shaffer, reserved players — that it retired from the League at 
the end of the season. The season of the National League was 
a profitable one despite the war, and the campaign an exciting 
one. Providence won after a hard fight, through the work of 
Radbourn, who pitched in 71 games, of which he won 57, lost 12, 
tied 2. This wonderful record was heightened by the fact that 
he pitched 38 consecutive games in August and September, win- 
ning 34 of them, including a run of 18 consecutive victories ; in- 
cidentally Providence won 20 straight games — a major league 
record to this day. The record of the League campaign was : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Providence 84 28 .750 

Boston 73 38 .658 

Buffalo 64 47 .577 

Chicago 62 50 .554 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

New York 62 50 .554 

Philadelphia 39 73 .348 

Cleveland 35 77 .313 

Detroit 28 84 .250 



The champions were: Radbourn, Conley, pitchers; Gilligan 
and Nava, catchers; Start, Farrell and Denny on the bases; 
Irwin, shortstop ; and Carroll, Hines and Radford in the outfield ; 
and Frank Bancroft, manager. Pitcher Charles Sweeney started 
the season with the Providence Club, but jumped in mid-season to 
the St. Louis Club, of the "outlaw" Union Association. James 
O'Rourke, of Buffalo, led the League batsmen, with .350. In this 
year President J. Ford Evans, of the Cleveland Club, died. 

THE SEASON OF 1885. 

This year was not a good one for the League, because for 
the first time it permitted the policy of expediency to rule it and 
made mistakes which plagued it years afterward. The Cleveland 
Club withdrew, and the League then proposed to admit the St. 



National League 



59 



Louis Union Association Club under Henry V. Lucas, the presi- 
dent of the "wrecking" Union Association, despite the fact that 
St. Louis was American Association territory under the National 
Agreement. This led to a series of wrangles with the American 
Association, which was finally bluffed into permitting the loca- 
tion of a League club in St. Louis, The Brooklyn Club, which 
had purchased the Cleveland team, had technically violated the 
National Agreement by negotiating the deal for the players 
before October. On this the League made its bluff, demanding 
either the expulsion of Brooklyn or the cession of the St. Louis 
territory. The Association, sooner than lose Brooklyn or risk 
a fracture of the National Agreement, and consequent war with 
the League, yielded, and induced President Von der Ahe to con- 
sent to a division of the St. Louis territory with the Lucas club. 
When it became evident that the League would admit Mr. Lucas, 
and, for his sake, pardon the deserters of the previous season, 
President A. G. Mills, who was bitterly opposed to such a stulti- 
fication, resigned the presidency of the League, and Mr. Young 
was elected his successor, the offices of president, secretary and 
treasurer being combined. After a series of five continued meet- 
ings, the deal was completed. The St. Louis Club was admitted 
March 5 ; and on April 18, Briody, Glasscock and McCormick, 
the contract-breakers, were reinstated and fined $1000 each; 
Seery, another contract-breaker, was reinstated upon payment of 
a $500 fine ; Shafer and Dunlap, reserve jumpers, were also for- 
given and fined $500 each. The season was fairly successful, 
financially. In a playing sense, however, it was a walkover for 
Chicago and New York, the former winning the pennant in the 
final series between the two during the closing week of the sea- 
son. The record was : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 87 25 .776 

New York 85 27 .758 

Philadelphia 56 54 .509 

Providence 53 57 .481 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 46 66 .410 

Detroit 41 67 .379 

Buffalo 38 74 .339 

St. Louis 36 72 .333 



The champion Chicago team was: Clarkson and McCor- 
mick, pitchers; Flint, catcher; Anson, Pfeffer and Williamson, 
on the bases ; Burns, shortstop, and Dalrymple, Gore and Kelly 
in the outfield ; and A. C. Anson, manager. The League batsmen 
were led by Roger Connor, of New York, with .371. In this year 



6o Richter's History and. Records of Base Ball 

the famous "Brotherhood of Ball Players" was organized by 
John M. Ward as a "fraternal organisation designed to co-operate 
with the National League in the honest conduct and the continued 
elevation of the game, and to improve the relations between the 
clubs and the players." 

the season of 1886. 

This year witnessed more changes in the League circuit. 
The Detroit Club bought out the Buffalo Club, and transferred 
its best players — the famous "Big Four" — White, Rowe, Rich- 
ardson and Brouthers, to Detroit. The Providence Club resigned 
its membership. The vacancies were filled by Kansas City and 
Washington. The pennant race was chiefly between the cham- 
pion Chicagos and the vastly strengthened Detroit team, the for- 
mer finally winning by a narrow margin. The record was: 



Club. W. 

Chicago 90 

Detroit 87 

New York 75 

Philadelphia 71 



L. 


Pet. 


34 


.725 


36 


.707 


44 


.630 


43 


.622 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 56 51 .478 

St. Louis 43 79 .352 

Kansas City 30 91 .247 

Washington 28 92 .233 



The winning team was: Clarkson, McCormick and Flynn, 
pitchers ; Kelly and Flint, catchers ; Anson, Pfeffer and Burns on 
the bases; WiUiamson, shortstop; Dalrymple, Gore, Kelly, Ryan 
and Sunday in the outfield; and A. C. Anson, manager. Mike 
Kelly, of Chicago, led the League batsmen, with .338. During 
this season, the existence of the League Players' Brotherhood 
was for the first time revealed by the Sporting Life. 

the season of 1887. 

In this year the League's circuit was once more revised. 
The St. Louis Club had proved unprofitable and ruined its owner, 
Lucas, and he gave up the battle. The Kansas City Club was 
badly located and was retired. The Indianapolis Club was 
organized and admitted, and the Pittsburgh Club suddenly 
resigned from the American Association just before the League 
meeting in November, and was admitted to the old organization. 
The playing season was an excellent one, financially, and the pen- 
nant race close and exciting, the star Detroit team finally win- 
ning after a hard fight. The record was : 




Famous National League Players of the '90s 

1 — Fred Tenney, first base. 2 — John A. MtePhee, second base. 3 — ■ 
John McGraw, third base. 4 — Hugh Jennings, shortstop. 5 — E. J. Dela- 
hanty, left field. 6 — W. Lange. centre field. 7 — W. ("Buck") Ewing, 
catcher. 8 — W. Keeler, right field. 



Club. W. 

Detroit 79 

Philadelphia 73 

Chicago 71 

New York 68 



L. 


Pet 


45 


.637 


48 


.610 


50 


.587 


55 


.553 



National League 6i 

Club. W. L. Pet 

Boston 61 60 .504 

Pittsburgh 55 69 .444 

Washington 46 76 .377 

Indianapolis 37 89 .294 

The champion Detroit team was composed of: Getzein, 
Baldwin, Conway, Twitchell and Weidman, pitchers; Bennett, 
Briody and Ganzel, catchers; Brouthers, Dunlap and White on 
the bases; Rowe, shortstop; Richardson, Hanlon and Thompson 
in the outfield ; and W. H. Watkins, manager. The leading bats- 
man of the league was Albert Maul, of Pittsburgh, with .450 
in 16 games, but the actual leader was Anson with .421 in 122 
games. All the batting averages were high because the pitching 
rules had been amended to count bases on balls as base hits ; and 
four strikes were necessary for an out instead of three strikes. 
These rules were repealed the following season. In the Fall of 
this year the Brotherhood of Ball Players demanded and was 
accorded recognition by the League as an organization. The re- 
sult was a conference, at which the Brotherhood submitted a new 
form of contract, which was adopted by the League ; the Brother- 
hood agreeing to recognize the Reserve Rule upon condition that 
the salary of a player should not be reduced while under reserva- 
tion. 

THE season of 1 888. 

This year was uneventful, as there was no change in the 
circuit. The season was the most prosperous on record, all the 
clubs except Detroit, Washington and Indianapolis making money. 
The pennant race was confined to four clubs — New York, Chi- 
cago, Philadelphia and Boston, and these made a great race. New 
York finally winning by a magnificent streak of good work, com- 
mencing with July and lasting to the finish. The Detroits met 
with an unparalleled series of accidents to players, which deprived 
them of all chance for the pennant. The record was : 

Club. W. L. Pet 

Detroit 68 63 .519 

Pittsburgh 66 68 .493 

Indianapolis 50 85 .370 

Washington 48 86 .358 

The champion team was : Keefe, Welch, Titcomb, Crane and 

George, pitchers; Ewing, Brown and Murphy, catchers; Connor, 

D. Richardson and Whitney on the bases; Ward, shortstop; 

O'Rourke, Gore, Slattery, Foster and Tiernan in the outfield; 



Club. W 

New York 84 

Chicago 77 

Philadelphia 69 

Boston 70 



L. 


Pet 


47 


.641 


58 


.578 


61 


.531 


64 


.522 



62 Richter's History anp Records of Base Ball 

and James Mutrie, manager. The League batsmen were led by 
Anson, of Chicago, with .343. It was in the Fall of this year 
the League enacted some legislation which subsequently led to 
the great revolt of the Brotherhood and the organization of the 
Players' League. This legislation was the classification rule, 
fathered by President John T. Brush, of the Indianapolis Club, 
which was designed to reduce the ever-growing salaries, and 
practically nullified the Brotherhood contract. Under this law 
(passed during the absence of John M. Ward, the Brotherhood 
leader, with the Spalding party, including the Chicago and All- 
American teams, on a tour of the world) all the players of the 
League were to be graded into classes from A to E, with the 
corresponding salaries funning from $1500 to $2500, the latter 
being the maximum amount that could be paid. All sorts of 
regulations were prescribed with a view to rendering evasion 
impossible. But the law was evaded, nevertheless, and oppressed 
some players, while others escaped its operation entirely. This 
rule was the subject of incessant complaint by the players, and 
caused intense and constantly growing irritation among them. 
In this year the New York Club was suddenly deprived of the 
old Polo Grounds at iioth Street, and played on Staten Island 
from April to August, opening the new Polo Grounds at 155th 
Street August 6, with Pittsburgh, defeating the latter, 7-4. 

THE SEASON OF 1889. 

This year was the culmination of a series of prosperous 
years. This was due partly to the eclat of the Spalding tour 
around the world and partly to the evening up of the teams. The 
great Detroit team disbanded. Cleveland resigned from the 
American Association and was admitted to the League in place 
of Detroit. The stars of the Detroit Club were then well dis- 
tributed, Boston getting four, Pittsburgh three, Philadelphia one, 
and Cleveland the remainder. The result was one of the closest 
races in the history of Base Ball. The championship remained in 
doubt until the last games had been played, and the positions of 
no less than six clubs depended upon the results of the last day's 
play. The New York team won the pennant after a hard all- 
season fight with Boston. The record: 



National League 63 



Club. w. L. Pet. 

New York 83 43 .659 

Boston 83 45 .648 

Chicago 67 65 .508 

Philadelphia 63 64 .496 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Pittsburgh 61 71 .462 

Cleveland 61 72 .459 

Indianapolis 59 75 .440 

Washington 41 83 .331 



The winning team was: Keefe, Welch, O'Day, Crane and 
Hatfield, pitchers; Ewing, Brown and Murphy, catchers; Con- 
nor, D. Richardson and Whitney on the bases ; Ward, shortstop ; 
O'Rourke, Gore, Tiernan and Slattery in the outfield ; and James 
Mutrie, manager. The League batsmen were once more ranked 
by Brouthers, of Boston, with .373. In this year Tim Keefe, of 
New York, established a new pitcher's record with 19 consecu- 
tive victories. During the season the Brotherhood leaders repeat- 
edly demanded a hearing by the National League of the com- 
plaints against the Brush Classification Rule, but the League 
refused to consider the matter until the regular Fall meeting; 
whereupon the Brotherhood leaders throughout the remainder of 
the season negotiated secretly with capitalists in various cities 
for the organiaztion of a new major league. 

THE season of 189O. 

This was one of the most eventful seasons in Base Ball his- 
tory. In the Fall of 1889 the great body of players embraced in 
the Brotherhood revolted, and with the aid of capitalists organ- 
ized a new league, named the Players' League, and placed clubs 
(in whose management the players had a voice) in Boston, 
Brooklyn, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleve- 
land and Buffalo. The National League retired Indianapolis and 
Washington ; admitted the Cincinnati and Brooklyn Clubs, which 
had resigned from the American Association; weaned back a 
number of its star players with large salaries; and filled up its 
teams with the best young players picked from the minor leagues. 
Contrary to expectation it developed a lot of good teams which 
made a capital race. To make the battle short, sharp and decis- 
ive the National League boldly scheduled in opposition to the 
Players' League, notwithstanding the latter 's star teams. The 
result was a division of patronage which caused heavy losses to 
both sides. The National League race, however, increased in 
interest during the season, while the Players' League teams 
became demoralized, owing to friction with the heavily-losing 
backers. The result of the race was: 



64 



Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Brooklyn 86 43 .667 

Chicago 83 53 .610 

Philadelphia 78 53 .595 

Cincinnati 78 55 .586 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 76 57 .571 

New York 63 68 .481 

Cleveland 44 88 .333 

Pittsburgh 23 114 .168 



The champion Brooklyn team was composed as follows: 
Carruthers, Terry, Lovett, pitchers; Daly, Clark and Bushong, 
catchers ; Foutz, Collins, Pinkney, basemen ; George Smith, short- 
stop; O'Brien, Corkhill, Burns, Donovan, outfielders; William 
McGunnigle, manager. Pitcher John Luby, of Chicago, was titu- 
lar batting leader, with .342 for 30 games; but J. Glasscock, of 
New York, was the real leader with .336 for 124 games. In this 
season pitcher Luby, of Chicago, also won 17 consecutive games. 

THE season of 1 89 1. 

This season witnessed another war. In the Fall of 1890, 
A. S. Stern sold his Cincinnati Club, for $40,000, to Al Johnson, 
who was the backer of the Cleveland Club, of the Players' League, 
but the National League tied the money up in court and awarded 
the Cincinnati franchise to John T. Brush. Later, negotiations 
with the backers of the Players' League led to consolidation of 
the rival clubs in the cities in which there were conflicting clubs, 
thus wiping out the Players' League. The National League then 
assisted in the reorganization of the American Association, shar- 
ing the Boston and Philadelphia territory with it. On the eve 
of the season a dispute arose over players Stovey and Bierbauer, 
claimed by the Philadelphia Athletic Club, but signed by the Bos- 
ton and Pittsburg Clubs, respectively. An appeal to the Board 
of Arbitration, composed of Messrs. Krauthoff, Thurman and 
Rogers, was decided against the Athletic Club, and then the 
American Association withdrew from the National Agreement 
and played out the season as an outlaw organization. The 
National League enjoyed a good season and race, which resulted 
as follows: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 87 51 .630 

Chicago 82 53 .607 

New York 71 61 .538 

Philadelphia 68 69 .495 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Cleveland 65 74 .468 

Brooklyn 61 76 .445 

Cincinnati 56 81 .409 

Pittsburgh 55 80 .407 



The champion Boston team was manned as follows: J. 
Clarkson, Nichols, Staley, pitchers ; Bennett, Ganzel, catchers ; 




National League Presidents Dueing 12-Club Regime in the '90s 

1— Dr. T. H. Stuckey, president Louisville Club, 1892. 2— Chris Von 
der Ahe, president St. Louis Club, 1892-1897. 3 — Edward H. Hanlon, 
president Baltimore Club, 1893-1900. 4 — John T. Brush, president Cin- 
cinnati Club, 1891-1902. 5 — William C. Temple, president Pittsburgh 
Club, 1892. 6— George W. Wagner, president Washington Club, 1892- 
1900. 



National League 



65 



Tucker, Joe Quinn and Nash, basemen; Long, shortstop; Lowe, 
substitute; Brodie, Stovey, Mike Kelly, Martin Sullivan, out- 
fielders ; Frank Selee, manager. Billy Hamilton, of Philadelphia, 
led the batsmen, with .338. 

THE season of 1892. 

This year witnessed the enlargement of the National League 
to twelve clubs on a ten-year basis, through absorption of the 
American Association. In the Fall of 1891 the latter began to 
raid the National League for star players and also secured back- 
ing and a ground for a team in Chicago. By skillful maneuver- 
ing, the National League made deals with the various American 
Association club owners, purchased four clubs outright and 
adrnitted Baltimore, Washington, St. Louis and Louisville to 
membership, the Washington franchise having been purchased 
by the Wagner brothers, of Philadelphia, who had just sold 
their Athletic Club to the National League. The season was 
divided into two series, the first running from April to July and 
the second from July to October. Boston finished ahead in the 
first season with 52 victories and 22 defeats for .703 ; and Cleve- 
land won out in the second season with 53 victories and 23 
defeats for .697. In the play-off post-season series Boston 
defeated Cleveland, 4 games to i game. On the whole season 
the Boston Club was awarded the championship as per this rec- 
ord. 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 102 48 '.680 

Cleveland 93 56 .624 

Brooklyn 95 59 .617 

Philadelphia 87 66 .569 

Cincinnati 82 68 .547 

Pittsburgh 80 73 .516 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 70 76 .479 

New York 71 80 .470 

Louisville 63 89 .414 

Washington 58 93 .384 

St. Louis 56 94 .373 

Baltimore 46 101 .313 



The champion Boston Club was composed as follows : Nich- 
ols, Clarkson, Staley, Stivetts, pitchers; Bennett, Ganzel, Kelly, 
catchers; Tucker, Quinn, Nash, basemen; Long, shortstop; 
Lowe, Duffy and McCarthy, outfielders ; Frank Selee, manager. 
The batting leaders of the season were Childs, of Cleveland, and 
Brouthers, of Brooklyn, tied at .335. The season was a financial 
failure. Ten of the clubs lost heavily and only two clubs, Pitts- 
burgh and Cleveland finished even financially. In June, at a 
5 



(^ Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

special meeting held in New York, the League decided to scale 
the enormous salaries, heritages of the wars of 1890-91. Accord- 
ingly each club was given permission to cut all salaries from 30 
to 40 per cent., or to release refractory players, agreeing not to 
approach or sign such players. All clubs, except Philadelphia 
and Brooklyn, availed themselves of this permission to cut sala- 
ries and only one player — Mullane, of St. Louis — refused to sub- 
mit, and he remained idle balance of season. 

THE season of 1 893. 

In this year the National League returned to the one-season 
schedule and Boston again won the championship after a rather 
interesting season-long race with Pittsburgh. In this year the 
pitching distance was increased from 50 feet to 60 feet 5 inches, 
at which it has remained since. The season record was : 

Club. W. 

Cincinnati 65 



Club. W. 

Boston 86 

Pittsburgh 81 

Cleveland 73 

Philadelphia 72 

New York 68 

Brooklyn 65 



L. 


Pet. 


44 


.662 


48 


.628 


55 


.570 


57 


.558 


64 


.515 


63 


.508 



Baltimore 60 

Chicago 57 

St. Louis 57 

Louisville 50 

Washington 40 



L. 


Pet. 


63 


.508 


70 


.462 


71 


.445 


75 


.432 


75 


.400 


89 


.310 



The champion Boston team this year was as follows : Nich- 
ols, Gastright, Staley, Stivetts, pitchers; Bennett, Ganzel, Mer- 
ritt, catchers; Tucker, Lowe, Nash, basemen; Long, shortstop; 
Carroll, Duffy, McCarthy, outfielders; Frank Selee, manager. 
The batting leader was Jacob Stenzel, of Pittsburgh, with .409. 

THE season of 1 894. 

The season was uneventful, but marked the gradual return 
of prosperity with peace. The season witnessed the rise and suc- 
cess, under E. H. Hanlon, of the Baltimore team, which intro- 
duced what was called "aggressive ball," which later developed 
strife and rowdyism which required the herculean efforts of 
many years to subdue. The Baltimore team won the cham- 
pionship after a hard fight with Ward's New York Giants. The 
season record : 

Club. W. 



Club. W. 

Baltimore 89 

New York 88 

Boston 83 

Philadelphia 71 

Brooklyn 70 

Cleveland 68 



L. 


Pet. 


39 


.695 


44 


.667 


49 


.629 


56 


.559 


61 


.534 


61 


.527 



Pittsburgh 65 

Chicago 57 

St. Louis 56 

Cincinnati 54 

Washington 45 

Louisville 36 



L. 


Pet. 


65 


.500 


75 


.432 


76 


.424 


75 


.419 


87 


.341 


94 


.277 



National League 



67 



The champion Baltimore team was manned as follows : Mc- 
Mahon, Hawke, Gleason, Esper, pitchers; Robinson and Clarke, 
catchers ; Brouthers, Reitz, Bonner and McGraw, basemen ; Jen- 
nings, shortstop; Joe Kelley, Brodie, Keeler, outfielders; E. H. 
Hanlon, manager. The batting leader this season was Hugh 
Duffy, of Boston, with .438. 

THE SEASON OF 1 895. 

In this year the Spaldings and the former Players' League 
stockholders in the New York Club sold a controlling interest 
in the New York Club to Andrew Freedman. Baltimore again 
won the pennant, Cleveland this time being the runner-up. The 
record : 



Club. 



W. L. Pet. 



Baltimore 87 43 .669 

Cleveland 84 46 .646 

Philadelphia 78 53 .595 

Chicago 72 58 .554 



Brooklyn 71 

Boston 71 



60 .542 
60 .542 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Pittsburgh 71 61 .538 

Cincinnati 66 64 .508 

New York 66 65 .504 

Washington 43 85 .336 

St Louis 39 92 .298 

Louisville 35 96 .267 



The champion Baltimore team this year was made up as fol- 
lows: Hoffer, A. Clarkson, Hemming, Esper and "Sadie" Mc- 
Mahon, pitchers ; Robinson and Clarke, catchers ; Carey, Reitz, 
Gleason and McGraw, basemen; Jennings, shortstop; Kelley, 
Brodie, Keeler, outfielders; E. H. Hanlon, manager. Jesse Bur- 
kett, of Cleveland, with .423, led the League batsmen. On Octo- 
ber 3 of this year, Harry Wright, the ''Father of Professional 
Base Ball," died, in his 54th year. Charles Radbourn, the great 
pitcher, also died this year. 

THE SEASON OF 1 896. 

In this season the Baltimores won the championship for the 
third and last time. In this year Andrew Freedman quarreled 
with John T. Brush and thus caused a factional split in the 
League which widened with the years, created disorganization, 
and almost wrecked the organization. The factional fight was 
between the "Big Five" — New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chi- 
cago and Pittsburgh — led by Mr. Freedman, of New York, and 
Colonel John I. Rogers, of Philadelphia; and the Little Seven," 
composed of the remaining clubs, led by President Brush, of 
Cincinnati. The championship record of 1896 was as follows : 



68 



Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Baltimore 90 39 .698 

Cleveland 80 48 .625 

Cincinnati 77 50 .606 

Boston 74 57 .565 

Chicago 71 57 .555 



Pittsburs 



66 63 .512 



Club. 



W. L. Pet. 



New York 64 67 .489 

Philadelphia 62 68 .477 

Washington 58 73 .443 

Brooklyn 58 73 .443 

St. Louis 40 90 .308 

Louisville 38 93 .290 



The champion Baltimore team this season was : Hoffer, 
Esper, Pond, McMahon, Hemming, pitchers; Robinson and 
Clarke, catchers; Jack Doyle, Reitz, Donnelly and McGraw, 
basemen ; Jennings, shortstop ; Kelley, Brodie, Keeler, outfielders ; 
Ed. Hanlon, manager. The League batting leader again was 
Jesse Burkett, with .410. 

the season of 1897. 

In this year Boston wrested the championship from Balti- 
more, the latter losing the ardently- wished- for honor of being a 
League record-breaker with four successive pennants. The rec- 
ord follows: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 93 39 .705 

Baltimore 90 40 .692 

New York 83 48 .634 

Cincinnati 76 56 .576 

Cleveland 69 62 .527 

Brooklyn 61 71 .462 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Washington 61 71, 462 

Pittsburgh 60 71 .454 

Chicago 59 73 .447 

Philadelphia 55 77 .417 

Louisville 52 78 .400 

St. Louis 29 102 .229 



The champion Boston team of 1897 was: Nichols, Klobe- 
danz, Lewis, Stivetts, pitchers; M. Bergen, Ganzel, Lake, catch- 
ers; Tenney, Lowe, Collins, basemen; Long and Allen, short- 
stops ; Duffy, Hamilton, C. Stahl and Yeager, outfielders ; Frank 
Selee, manager. W. Keeler, of Baltimore, with .432, led the 
League in batting. In this year President Charles H. Byrne, of 
the Brooklyn Club, one of the ablest men in Base Ball, died. 

: THE season OF 1 898. 

I In this year the Boston Club again won the championship, 
under a schedule lengthened to 154 games, with greater ease than 
in the preceding season. The season's record was : 



Club. W. 

Boston 102 

Baltimore 96 

Cincinnati 92 

Chicago 85 

Cleveland 81 

PhiladelDhia 78 



L. 


Pet. 


47 


.685 


53 


.644 


60 


.605 


65 


.567 


68 


.544 


71 


.523 



Club. W. 

New York 77 

Pittsburgh 72 

Louisville 70 

Brooklyn 54 

Washington . . . '. 51 

St. Louis 39 111 



L. 


Pet. 


73 


.513 


76 


.486 


81 


.464 


91 


.372 


101 


.336 


111 


.260 




National League Presidents During 12-Club Regime in the '90s 



1— Arthur H. Soden, president Boston Club, 1876-1906. 2— Andrew 
Freedman, president New York Club, 1895-1902. 3— Charles H. Byrne, 
president Brooklyn Club, 1890-1897. 4— Alfred J. Reach, president Phil- 
adelphia Club, 1883-1902. 5— James A. Hart, President Chicago Club, 
1892-1905. 6— Frank De Haas Robinson, president Cleveland Club. 1899- 
1900. 



National League 69 

The champion Boston team's players were: Lewis, Nichols, 
Klobedanz, Willis, pitchers; M. Bergen and G. Yeager, catchers; 
Tenney, Lowe and Collins, basemen; Long, shortstop; Duffy, 
Stahl, Hamilton, outfielders; Stivetts, substitute; Frank Selee, 
manager. Keeler, of Baltimore, again led the League batters 
with .379. In this year the League, at the instigation of John 
T. Brush, passed the "Brush Purification Rule." By this meas- 
ure was created an alien board, composed of Messrs. L. C. 
Krauthoff, Louis Kramer and Fred Stearns, to try and to punish 
all cases of indecent conduct or obscene language by ball players 
upon the field. This measure was bitterly resented by the players 
and derided by the press, and was repealed within a year, not 
one case having reached the board. 

THE SEASON OF 1 899. 

The season marked the passing of the great Baltimore team. 
The leading members of this team, with Manager Hanlon, were 
transferred to and amalgamated with the Brooklyn team, while 
a makeshift team was placed in Baltimore under McGraw's man- 
agement. The Robisons pursued a similar policy with Cleveland 
after securing control of Von der Ahe's St. Louis Club. The 
reinforced Brooklyn team won the championship after a bruis- 
ing battle with Boston and Philadelphia. On the face of the 
returns at the end of the race the Brooklyn team had won the 
pennant with loi victories and 62 defeats, for .682. But the club 
played George Wrigley illegally in September, and upon appeal 
of the New York Club the Board of Directors threw out 16 games 
in which Wrigley had participated, making the official record as 
follows : 



Club. W. 

Brooklyn 88 

Boston 95 

Philadelphia 94 

Baltimore 84 

St. Louis 83 

Cincinnati 83 



L. 


Pet. 


42 


.677 


57 


.625 


58 


.619 


58 


.592 


66 


.557 


67 


.553 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Pittsburgh 76 73 .510 

Chicago 75 73 .507 

Louisville 75 77 .493 

New York 60 86 .408 

Washington 53 95 .358 

Cleveland 20 134 .130 



The champion Brooklyn team was manned as follows: 
Hughes, Kennedy, Dunn, Mcjames, pitchers; Farrell, McGuire, 
catchers ; McGann, Jennings, Daly and Casey, basemen ; Dahlen, 
shortstop ; J. Anderson, Joe Kelley, Keeler, F. Jones, outfielders ; 



70 



Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



Ed Hanlon, manager. This year Ed Delahanty, of Philadel- 
phia, with ,408, led the League batsmen. 

THE season of I9OO. 

This year the National League returned to the eight-club 
circuit. Cleveland, Baltimore, Washington and Louisville were 
vacated. The Louisville team was consolidated with the Pitts- 
burgh team. Cleveland was ceded to the Western League, which 
this year assumed the American League title, while Baltimore 
and Washington were allowed to remain idle, though the Eastern 
League desired the territory. The Brooklyn team again won the 
pennant. The season record: 

Club. W. L. Pet. 

Brooklyn 82 54 .603 

Pittsburgh 79 60 .568 

Philadelphia 75 63 .543 

Boston 66 72 .478 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 65 75 .464 

St. Louis 65 75 .464 

Cincinnati 62 77 .446 

New York 60 78 .435 



The champion Brooklyn team this year was manned as fol- 
lows: McGinnity, Kennedy, Kitson, pitchers; Farrell, McGuire, 
catchers ; Jennings, Daly, DeMontreville, L. Cross, basemen ; 
Dahlen, shortstop; Kelle}^ Sheckard, Keeler and F. Jones, out- 
fielders; Ed Hanlon, manager. The champion batsman of the 
League was John H. Wagner, of Pittsburgh, with .380. 

THE SEASON OF IQOI. 

This year the National League entered its fourth war. The 
American League decided upon further expansion after having 
in 1900 secured admission to Chicago. Being unable to come to 
terms with the National League for franchises for Washington, 
Baltimore and Philadelphia, the American League withdrew 
from the National Agreement, occupied Washington, Baltimore, 
Boston and Philadelphia, and made a successful raid on National 
League players, the Boston, Brooklyn and Chicago teams being 
hard hit. In this year the National League also introduced the 
foul-strike rule, and the rule compelling the catcher to play con- 
tinuously under the bat. The League also abrogated the National 
Agreement, thus compelling the minor leagues to organize their 
National Association. The season's race was a hot one between 
Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Brooklyn, the Smoky City team win- 
ning a National League pennant for the first time. The record: 



National League 



71 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Pittsburgh 90 49 .647 

Philadelphia 83 57 .593 

Brooklyn 79 57 .581 

St. Louis 76 64 .543 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 69 69 .500 

Chicago 53 86 .381 

New York 52 85 .380 

Cincinnati 52 87 .374 



The champion Pittsburgh team was composed as follows: 
Leaver, Chesbro, J. Tannehill, Poole, Phillippi, pitchers ; Zimmer, 
O'Connor, G. Yeager, catchers ; Bransfield, Ritchey, Leach, base- 
men ; Ely and Wagner, shortstops ; F. Clarke, Beaumont, and A. 
Davis, outfielders; and Fred Clarke, manager. Burkett, of St. 
Louis, was the League batting leader, with .382. 

THE SEASON OF I902. 

Prior to the opening of this season the National League and 
American League raided each other for players, with the advan- 
tage remaining with the American League, which also transferred 
its Milwaukee franchise to St. Louis. At the annual meeting of 
the League in New York the organization became deadlocked 
in a battle over the presidency, Messrs. N. E. Young and A. G. 
Spalding having received four votes each. After the 25th ballot 
the Young delegates left the room, and then Col. John L Rogers, 
acting as chairman, ordered the 26th ballot, and declared A. G. 
Spalding elected. The latter assumed charge of the National 
League records, but the Young delegates refused to acknowledge 
his election and secured an injunction. To this the Spalding fac- 
tion filed a demurrer. The case dragged along all Winter until 
March 29, when Judge Truax overruled the Spalding demurrer. 
The National League met on April i, when Mr. Spalding 
resigned the presidency he had claimed, and Mr. Young also 
withdrew his candidacy, thus ending the factional fight and the 
legal proceedings. Messrs. Temple, Ward, Soden, Talcott, 
Elliott and Pulliam all refusing to accept nomination for the 
presidency, it was decided, on April 3, to leave the presidential 
office vacant. Mr. Young was elected secretary-treasurer and a 
Board, consisting of Messrs. Brush, Soden and Hart, was 
appointed to conduct the affairs of the League during the 1902 
season. Mr. Brush was appointed chairman of this committee, 
with power to act. Mr. Brush had sold his Cincinnati Club to a 
Cincinnati syndicate headed by Mr. Herrmann, and had pur- 
chased from Mr. Freedman an interest in the New York Club. 



72 



Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



During the season Mr. Brush's committee purchased the Balti- 
more American League Club and transferred Manager McGraw 
and the pick of the team to New York. The League race this 
year was a walkover for Pittsburgh. The season record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Pittsburgh 103 36 .741 

Brooklyn 75 63 .543 

Boston 73 64 .533 

Cincinnati 70 70 .500 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 68 69 .496 

St. Louis 56 78 .418 

Philadelphia 56 81 .409 

New York 48 88 .333 



The champion Pittsburgh team this year was : Chesbro, Tan- 
nehill, Doheny, Leever, Phillippi, pitchers; H. Smith, Zimmer, 
O'Connor, catchers; Bransfield, Ritchey, J. Burke, Leach, base- 
men; Wagner, shortstop; Conroy, Clarke, Beaumont, A. Davis, 
Sebring, outfielders; Fred Clarke, manager. C. Beaumont, of 
Pittsburgh, led the League in batting, with .357. In the Fall of 
this year Mr. Brush succeeded Andrew Freedman as president 
of the New York Club. 

THE season of I9O3. 

The absence of any National Agreement whatever during 
1902 placed everything in chaotic condition and in the Fall the 
raiding for players continued with disastrous results. The 
National League then took the bull by the horns, elected Harry 
C. Pulliam as president, and made peace overtures to the Ameri- 
can League. In January a truce was declared and a peace treaty 
signed. Next, the National Agreement now in force was formu- 
lated and signed by the National League, the American League 
and the National Association of Minor Leagues, at a meeting 
held in Buffalo, August 25 to 30; and then peace once more 
prevailed in the base ball world. The Pittsburgh team, though 
somewhat riddled, won the League pennant for the third con- 
secutive time. The record : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Pittsburgh 91 49 .656 

New York 84 55 .604 

Chicago • 82 56 .594 

Cincinnati 74 65 .532 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Brooklyn 70 66 .515 

Boston 58 80 .420 

Philadelphia 49 86 .363 

St. Louis 43 94 .314 



The champion Pittsburgh team this year was: Phillippi, 
Leever, Doheny, Kennedy, Veil, Thompson, Pfeister, Marshall, 
pitchers; Phelps, Carisch, Smith, Weaver, catchers; Bransfield, 




Presidents of National League Clubs in Office to 1914 Inclusive 



1 — Charles H. Ebbets, Brooklyn Club, Dean of the magnates, 1884- 
1914. 2 — Barney Dreyfuss. Pittsburg-h Club, second in length of service. 
1899-1914. 3 — August Herrmann, Cincinnati Club, third in length of 
service, 1903-1914. 4 — Charles W. Murphy, Chicago Club, fourth in length 
of service, 1906-1914. 5— James E. Gaffney, Boston Club, fifth in length 
of service, 1911-1914. 6 — Harry N. Hempstead, New York Club, sixth in 
length of service, 1913-1914. 7 — Schuyler Britton. St. Louis Club, seventh 
in length of service, 1913-1914. 8— William F. Baker, Philadelphia Club, 
junior member of the league, 1914. 



National League 73 

Ritchey, Leach, basemen; Wagner, shortstop; Kruger, substi- 
tute; Clarke, Beaumont, Sebring, outfielders; Fred Clarke, man- 
ager. J. Wagner, of Pittsburgh, was the actual batting leader of 
the League, with .355. 

THE SEASON OF I904. 

In this year the National League, under President Pulliam, 
conducted its affairs so well that it recovered nearly all of its 
popularity and prestige. A new champion team also came to the 
front in the New York Giants, who won the flag after a great 
race with Chicago. At the end of the season President Brush 
refused to permit the New York team to play a post-season 
World's Championship series with the Boston American League 
Club. The season record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

New York 106 47 .693 

Chicago 93 60 .608 

Cincinnati 88 65 .575 

Pittsburgh 87 66 .569 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

St. Louis 75 79 .422 

Brooklyn 56 97 .366 

Boston 55 98 .360 

Philadelphia 52 100 .342 



The champion New York team was manned as follows: 
McGinnity, Ames, Elliott, G. Wiltse, Mathewson, L. Taylor, 
pitchers; Bowerman, Warner, Marshall, catchers; McGann, Gil- 
bert, Devlin, basemen ; Dahlen and Dunn, shortstops ; Bresnahan, 
Mertes, Donlin, Browne, outfielders ; John J. McGraw, manager. 
The League batting leader was Wagner, of Pittsburgh, with .349. 

THE SEASON OF I905. 

In 1905, New York again won the pennant in rather easy 

fashion, Pittsburg and Chicago making the race. The season was 

chiefly noteworthy for the success of President Pulliam's efforts 

to suppress rowdy ball playing. At the end of this season the 

New Yorks and Athletics, of the American League, played the 

first of the modern World's Championship Series, under rules 

formulated by President Brush, and adopted by both major 

leagues, which made the World's Series an annual event, and 

placed it within sole control of the National Commission. The 

season record: 

Club. W. L. Pet. Club. W. L. Pet. 

New York 105 46 .686 Cincinnati 79 74 .516 

Pittsburgh 96 57 .627 St. Louis 58 96 .377 

Chicago 92 61 .601 Boston 51 103 .331 

Philadelphia ; 83 69 .546 Brooklyn 48 104 .316 



74 



Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



The champion New York team this year was: McGinnity, 
Mathewson, L. Taylor, G. Wiltse, ElHott, Ames, pitchers; Bow- 
erman, Bresnahan, Marshall, W. Clarke, catchers; McGann, Gil- 
bert, Devlin, basemen; Dahlen and Strang, shortstops; Donlin, 
Mertes, Browne, outfielders; John J. McGraw, manager. The 
League batting leader was "Cy" Seymour, of Cincinnati, with .377. 

THE SEASON OF I906. 

In this season the famous Chicago Club passed from the 
control of John R. Walsh and James A. Hart to Charles W. 
Murphy and Charles P. Taft, respectively journalist and capital- 
ist, both of Cincinnati. Under the new ownership and the able 
management of Frank Chance, the Chicago team came to the 
front with a rush and won the championship — after an interval 
of 20 years — ^by the largest number of victories in major league 
history. The season record: 

Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 116 36 .763 

New York 96 56 .632 

Pittsburgh 93. 60 .608 

Philadelphia 71 82 .464 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Brooklyn 66 86 .434 

Cincinnati 64 87 .424 

St. Louis 52 98 .347 

Boston 49 102 .324 



The champion team was made up as follows: M. Brown, 
Reulbach, Lundgren, Pfeister, Overall, J. Taylor, pitchers; 
Kling, Moran, Walsh, catchers; Chance, Evers, Steinfeldt, base- 
men; Tinker, shortstop; Hofman, substitute; Sheckard, Schulte, 
Slagle, outfielders; Frank Chance, manager. The batting leader 
this year was Wagner, of Pittsburgh, with .339. 

THE SEASON OF I907. 

In this year Chicago again won the pennant with almost as 
much ease as in the preceding campaign. The season was note- 
worthy for the record-breaking attendance at all games and for 
the fact that the National League cleared off entirely its great 
load of war debts. The record : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 107 45 .704 

Pittsburgh 91 63 .591 

Philadelphia 83 64 .566 

New York 82 71 .536 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Brooklyn 65 83 .439 

Cincinnati 66 87 .431 

Boston 58 90 .392 

St. Louis 52 101 .340 



The champion Chicago team was: M. Brown, Reulbach, 



National League 75 

Lundgren, Pfeister, Overall, Fraser, Durbin, pitchers; Kling, 
Moran, Olis, catchers; Chance, Evers, Stemfeldt, basemen; Tin- 
ker, shortstop; Hofman, substitute; Sheckard, Schulte, Slagle, 
Howard, outfielders ; Frank Chance, manager. The League bat- 
ting leader was again Wagner, of Pittsburgh, with .350. 

THE SEASON OF I908. 

This year Chicago won the pennant for the third successive 
time — ^thus equaling the National League records of Boston, Bal- 
timore and Pittsburgh, and giving to Chicago the honor of being 
the only Western city to twice harbor a three-time winner. This 
time the Chicago team had to make a tremendous fight for 
the flag and it only won out with the most remarkable finish in 
the history of Base Ball, in which for the first time in five years 
the winner failed to reach the century mark in victories. The 
race ended October 7 with the New York and Chicago teams tied 
for first place — an unprecedented occurrence in the history of 
major leagues. This was due to the fact that the New York- 
Chicago game of September 23 ended in a tie by decision of 
Umpires O'Day and Emslie, owing to a lapse by player Merkle. 
With McCormick, of New York, on third base and Merkle on 
first base and two out, Bridwell hit safely, and the runner from 
third base scored what should have been the winning run. Mer- 
kle, however, instead of running to second base and touching it, 
ran off first base to the club house, while the crowd surged over 
the field. Second baseman Evers secured the ball, touched sec- 
ond base, and claimed an out for Merkle. Umpire O'Day, who 
watched the play, allowed the out, thus cutting off the run that 
had scored, under the rule that no run could score when the third 
man was put out at first base or on a force-out. Meantime the 
crowd, thinking the game was over, swarmed on the field, making 
it impossible to resume play, and Umpire O'Day called the game 
on the ground of darkness. The New York Club protested the 
decision and the Chicago Club demanded that the game be played 
off on the following day, the last day of the series. This the New 
York Club refused to do, and the Chicago Club claimed a forfeit. 
President Pulliam sustained Umpire O'Day's decision and denied 
Chicago's claim of a forfeit. Both clubs appealed to the Board 
of Directors, which held a special meeting at Cincinnati October 



76 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

5. Meantime the race had become so close that in October Pitts- 
burgh and Chicago were first and second, with one more game 
between themselves to play, while New York was a close third, 
with three more games with Boston to play. The decisive Pitts- 
burgh-Chicago game was played at Chicago October 4 and was 
won by Chicago, thereby eliminating Pittsburgh. On the fol- 
lowing day the National League Directors met with the situa- 
tion that if New York won the three Boston games it could tie 
with Chicago and if the game of September 23 were awarded 
New York the latter would win the championship. The Board 
of Directors — Messrs. Ebbets, Herrmann and Dovey — after long 
and careful consideration of the facts and the evidence in the 
case, sustained President Pulliam's decision, declaring the dis- 
puted game a tie, denied Chicago's claim of forfeiture, and 
ordered the New York and Chicago Clubs to play off the game 
on the first clear day after the close of the scheduled season on 
October 7. The Directors based their authority for reaching 
this decision on the constitutional provision that "each club must 
play 22 championship games with every other club," and, there 
being a "dispute between clubs," the Board had sole jurisdiction 
without appeal from the decision or review by even the National 
League. The order to play was made mandatory on both clubs. 
The New York Club won the three scheduled games with Bos- 
ton, thereby tieing Chicago for first place. The play-off of the 
tie game of September 23 occurred, as per order of the Board 
of Directors, in New York October 8 before the greatest crowd 
ever at any ball game. Chicago won the game, 4 to i, thus cap- 
turing its third successive pennant — under conditions which have 
had no parallel in base ball history. The record of the race 
follows : 

Club. W. L. Pet. Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 99 55 .643 Cineinnati 73 81 .474 

Pittsburgh 98 56 .636 Boston 63 91 .409 

New York 98 56 .636 Brooklyn 53 101 .344 

Philadelphia 83 71 .539 St. Louis 49 105 .318 

The champion Chicago team this year was as follows: 
Pitchers, Reulbach, M. Brown, Lundgren, Overall, Fraser, Pfies- 
ter, Coakley; catchers, Kling, Moran; manager and first base, 
Chance; second base, Evers; third base, Steinfeldt; shortstop, 
Tinker; outfielders, Sheckard, Slagle, Schulte, Howard; utility, 




Famous National League Players of the Present 



1 — Ed Konetchy, first base. 2 — Larry Doyle, second base. 3 — John 
Lobert, third base. 4 — Hans Wagner, shortstop. 5 — Bob Bescher, left 
field. 6 — Thomas Leach, centre field. 7 — C. Cravath, right field. 8 — 
James Archer, catcher. 



National League 'jy 

Hofman, Zimmerman. The League batting leader was again 
Wagner, of Pittsburgh, with .354 — this making the sixth time 
in 12 years he had led the League in batting; a record to date 
unequaled by any other player in the history of Base Ball. In 
this year was introduced a rule prohibiting the soiling of any 
new ball, put into play, by either the pitcher or other players. In 
this year, also, Frank De Haas Robison, former president of the 
Cleveland and St. Louis Clubs, died. 

THE season of IQOQ. 

In this year Pittsburgh won the championship once more 
after an interregnum of six years. It was a fitting reward for 
the Pittsburgh Club in building and dedicating the magnificent 
new Forbes Field in this year — one of the show places of the 
National League. The 1909 race was entirely lacking in sensa- 
tional or extraordinary happenings, in marked contrast to the 
exciting campaign of the previous year. From the start there 
were only three pennant contenders, namely, Chicago, New York 
and Pittsburgh, and the latter early in the race assumed a lead 
which was maintained to the end and which was rarely threat- 
ened. The result was a bitter disappointment to the Chicago 
Club, which had hoped to establish a new National League rec- 
ord with four successive championships. Following is the com- 
plete 1909 record: 



Club. W. 

Pittsburgh 110 

Chicago 104 

New York 92 

Cincinnati 77 



L. 


Pet. 


42 


.724 


49 


.680 


61 


.601 


76 


.504 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Philadelphia 74 79 .484 

Brooklyn 55 98 .359 

St. Louis 54 98 .355 

Boston 45 108 .294 



The champion Pittsburgh team was made up as follows : 
Fred Clarke, manager; pitchers, Leever, Camnitz, Adams, Phil- 
lippi, Leifield, Willis, Maddox; catchers, Gibson, O'Connor and 
Simon; infielders, Abstein, Storke, J. Miller, Byrne, Barbeau, 
Wagner, Abatticchio; outfielders, Clarke, Leach, Wilson and 
Hyatt. Wagner, of Pittsburgh, with .339 for 137 games, led the 
National League for the seventh time — an unprecedented record. 
In this year the Playing Rules were amended to the effect that 
the "umpire must announce all team changes to the spectators;" 
new definitions were made as to "when the ball is in play ;" that 
the batting order must be "delivered before the game to the 



78 



Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



umpire at the home plate;" that the batsman must be declared 
out "if he steps from one batsman's box to the other while the 
pitcher is in his position ready to pitch ;" that the base runner be 
declared out "if he pass a preceding runner before the latter has 
been legally put out." The rules relating to the duties and powers 
of the umpires under the double-umpire system were also revised 
and made more stringent. In this year also, Harry Clay Pul- 
liam, fifth president of the National League, died on July 29, in 
New York City. His remains were interred in Louisville, Ky., 
his native city. President Dovey, of the Boston Club, and Presi- 
dent Durham, of the Philadelphia Club, also died suddenly dur- 
ing the 1909 season ; and the famous manager, Frank Selee, also 
passed away. In this year the National League also adopted as 
its standard ball the cork center ball, invented by Mr. B. F. 
Shibe, of Philadelphia, for the use of the National League 
official outfitters, A. G. Spalding & Bros., of New York. Secre- 
tary-Treasurer John A. Heydler was appointed President of the 
League to fill the unexpired term of the deceased Harry C. 
Pulliam. 

THE season of I9IO. 

In this season the Pittsburgh team failed to retain the cham- 
pionship — ^being thus the only National League champion team 
failing to repeat within 20 years, or to be more precise, since 
1890, the year of the Brotherhood War. The Chicago team, 
which won the championship in 1906, '07, '08, and finished sec- 
ond in 1909, won the pennant in 1910, thus also establishing a 
new record, being the first major league champion team to win 
a pennant three successive years, lose it, and then recover it 
within a year. The 1909 champion and world's champion team 
finished third this year, being beaten out of even the place by 
New York. Following is the complete 1910 season record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 104 50 .676 

New York 91 63 .591 

Pittsburgh 86 67 .562 

Philadelphia 78 75 .510 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Cineinnati 75 79 .487 

Brooklyn 64 90 .416 

St. Louis 63 90 .412 

Boston 53 100 .346 



The champion Chicago team was composed as follows: 
Manager, Frank Chance; pitchers. Cole, Overall, M. Brown, 
Reulbach, Mclntire, Foxen, Richie; catchers, Archer, Needham, 



National League 



79 



Kling; first base, Chance, Luderus; second base, Evers and 
Zimmerman; third base, Stein feldt; shortstop, Tinker; out- 
fielders, Sheckard, Schulte, Hofman, Kane, Beaumont, Miller. 
The titular champion batsman of the National League was 
pitcher Crandall, of New York, with .342 for 43 games, and 
outfielder Goode, of Boston, with .337, for 24 games; but the 
actual champion was Sherwood Magee, of Philadelphia, with 
.331 in 154 games. No changes whatever in the Playing Rules 
were made in this year. Former Umpire Thomas J. Lynch, of 
New Britain, Conn., was elected president of the League at the 
Winter meeting as the result of a deadlock between Robert L. 
Brown, of Louisville, Ky., and John M. Ward, the former 
Brotherhood leader. Mr. John A. Heydler, who had been 
appointed president during the 1909 season to fill out the term 
of the deceased president, Harry C. Pulliam, did not permit his 
name to be presented in nomination for the Presidency and was 
re-elected secretary-treasurer. Colonel John I. Rogers, former 
treasurer of the Philadelphia Club died in this year. Third base- 
man John Lobert, of the Cincinnati team, made an official record 
of 13 4-5 seconds in circling the bases. 

THE SEASON OF I9II. 

The 191 1 season produced a new champion team in the 
New York Giants — their first pennant capture since 1905, when 
they coupled World's Series honors with the National League 
championship. This 191 1 pennant capture by the Giants was 
in direct line with the singular rule of progression which, for 
some occult reason, had been in vogue in the senior league for 
nearly a decade, which always made the place team of one year 
the champion team in the succeeding year unless the pennant- 
holder repeated. The 191 1 race was the closest, and most excit- 
ing since 1908, and it was not until the last month of the race 
that the pennant-winner was indicated. The complete 191 1 rec- 
ord is as follows: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

New York 99 54 .647 

Chicago 92 62 .597 

Pittsburgh 85 69 .552 

Philadelphia 79 73 .520 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

St. Louis 75 74 .503 

Cineinnati 70 83 .458 

Brooklyn 64 86 .427 

Boston 44 107 .291 



8o Richter's History and, Records of Base Ball 

The champion New York team was made up as follows: 
Manager, John J. McGraw; pitchers, Mathewson, Marquard, 
Ames, Wiltse, Crandall, Drucke; catchers, Myers, Wilson, Hart- 
ley, Paulet; first base, Merkle; second base, Doyle; third base, 
Herzog; shortstop, Fletcher; substitute infielder, Devlin; out- 
fielders, Murray, Snodgrass, Devore, Becker. This year there 
were two titular leaders ahead of the actual batting leader, 
namely, Kirke, of Boston, with .360 in 20 games; and Jackson, 
of Boston, with .347 in 39 games. But the actual leader was 
Wagner, of Pittsburgh, with .334 in 130 games. Bescher, of Cin- 
cincinnati, led in base running with 80 stolen bases. In this year 
President M. Stanley Robison, of the St. Louis Club ; and Presi- 
dent W. Hepburn Russell, of the Boston Club, died suddenly. 

THE SEASON OF I9I2. 

In the year 19 12 the New Yorks won the championship for 
the second successive time, and with greater ease than in the 
preceding season. In fact, but for a prolonged mid-season slump 
the Giants would probably have made a record-breaking race of 
it. As it was, the Giants won over 100 games on the season and 
were never headed from May 20 to the end of the race. Fol- 
lowing is the complete record of the 1912 race: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

New York 103 48 .682 

Pittsburgh 93 58 .616 

Chicago 91 59 .607 

Cincinnati 75 78 .490 



Club. W. L. Pet 

Philadelphia 73 79 .480 

St. Louis 63 90 .412 

Brooklyn 58 95 .379 

Boston 52 101 .340 



The champion New York team was manned as follows: 
Manager, John J. McGraw; pitchers, Mathewson, Marquard, 
Tesreau, Ames, Wiltse, Crandall; catchers, Myers, Wilson, 
Hartley; infielders, Merkle, Doyle, Herzog, Fletcher, Shafer; 
outfielders, Murray, Snodgrass, Devore, Becker, McCormick, 
Burns. In this year infielder Henry Zimmerman, of Chicago, 
was the batting leader with .372 in 145 games. Bescher, of Cin- 
cinnati, led the base runners with ^y stolen bases. During this 
season, pitcher Marquard, of New York, won 19 successive 
games pitched, thus equaling the record held by Tim Keefe, of 
New York, since 1889. Pitcher Tesreau, of New York, pitched 
a no-hit game ; and pitcher Lavender, of Chicago, made a record 




John K. Tener 

Governor of Pennsylvania and Eighth President of the 
National League; Elected December 10, 1913 



National League 



8i 



of 30 consecutive scoreless innings. During the year the new- 
Cincinnati Field was dedicated and the corner-stone of the new 
Ebbets Field, in Brooklyn, was laid. The new National Agree- 
ment was officially promulgated on July 20, after many months 
of laborious revision. John T. Brush, president of the New 
York Club, died on November 6. The Base Ball Players' Fra- 
ternity, under the lead of David Fultz, a New York lawyer, and 
formerly a professional ball player, was organized, most of the 
National League players joining the organization. During this 
season the New York team won 16 consecutive games — within 
four games of the National League record made by Providence 
in 1884. In this year Secretary Heydler reintroduced the 
"earned run" in the pitching records, by giving a separate table 
of averages based upon the "earned run," against which were 
charged all runs due to base hits, stolen bases, bases on balls, hit 
batsmen, and wild pitches. 

THE SEASON OF I9I3. 

The 191 3 campaign of the National League was devoid of 
interest or excitement, as the New York team won the cham- 
pionship for the third successive time, and with greater ease 
than in the preceding campaign, as the team gained the lead on 
June 30 and was never again headed, the Philadelphia Club alone 
being able to give the Giants a real battle, as Chicago and Pitts- 
burgh were never dangerous in the later stages of the race. Fol- 
lowing is the season record : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

New York 101 51 .664 

Philadelphia 88 63 .583 

Chicago 88 65 .575 

Pittsburgh 78 71 .523 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 69 82 .457 

Brooklyn 65 84 .436 

Cincinnati 64 89 .418 

St. Louis 51 99 .340 



The champion New York team was rhanned as follows: 
John J. McGraw, manager; pitchers, Mathewson, Marquard, 
Tesreau, Demaree, Wiltse, Crandall, Fromme; catchers, Myers, 
Wilson, McLean, Hartley; infielders, Merkle, Doyle, Herzog, 
Fletcher, Grant, Shafer; outfielders, Murray, Snodgrass, Burns, 
McCormick, Thorpe and Cooper. The titular batting leader of 
the League was pitcher Yingling, of Brooklyn, with .383 for 40 
games ; but the actual batting leader was first baseman Daubert, 
6 



82 Richter's History ani> Records of Base Ball 

of Brooklyn, with .350 for 139 games. No team or individual 
records were made in this year, but noteworthy performances 
were plentiful, chief of which were runs of 14 and 13 consecu- 
tive victories by New York ; and a run of 50 consecutive innings 
without a base on balls by pitcher Mathewson, of New York. 
An incident of the season was the dedication of the magnificent 
new Ebbets Field, in Brooklyn — a plant costing about $750,000. 
In this year the Philadelphia Club passed from the control of 
Messrs. Taft and Murphy, to a syndicate headed by William H. 
Locke, secretary of the Pittsburgh Club. Locke was elected 
president by the reorganized Philadelphia Club corporation, but 
became ill in April and died at Atlantic City in August. In the 
Fall of this year the Base Ball Players' Fraternity, at the insti- 
gation of President David L. Fultz, presented a demand for 17 
concessions involving changes in the contract and in terms of 
the new National Agreement, which demands were referred to 
the National Commission for consideration and decision at its 
annual meeting in January, 1914. At the National League meet- 
ing, on December 9, 1913, Governor John K. Tener, of Penn- 
sylvania, was unanimously elected as president in succession to 
Thomas J. Lynch, of New Britain, Conn. — and for four years, an 
unprecedented thing in National League history. 




Byron Bancroft Johnson 

Founder and Only President of the 
American League 




AMERICAN LEAGUE 

3Rfee anb ^rogres^sf of atfife goung ILeague; fte ©nlj> 
Organisation SBifticfi Cber <gabe ^nttt^^lul pattle to tlie 
i?ational Heague, l^laceb 3ts(elf on a permanent |las(isf, anb 
#atie CremenbottsJ Smpetus^ to tfie (Same's? ©ebelopment, 

"^HE American League, which today shares 
with the National League the hegemony 
of the base ball world, is the only organi- 
zation in the history of the sport to con- 
duct a successful war with the National 
League without subsequently losing the 
fruits of its victory through diplomacy 
or legislation. In its great two-years' 
battle with the National League, the American League not only 
established itself, but in peace it retained all it captured in war 
and made its future secure by simple adherence to its ante-war 
pledges for the dual-league principle, thus giving the lie to the 
swarm of prophets who boldly predicted that the American 
League war of conquest would simply result in a new and more 
powerful base ball monopoly. To the success of the American 
League and its fidelity to the dual-league principle we are 
indebted for the flourishing condition of Base Ball today. The 
story of the inception, rise, progress and final development of 
the American League to major league status is herewith given 
in the concise form in which the writer first presented it in 
Sporting Life some years ago, but which is now brought up to 
date. 

THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN LEAGUE i 

is the history of its great president. Ban Johnson, who was the 
leader of the organization from its birth and who inspired and 
guided its development, rise and progress from a puny minor 
league to major league status. The history of the American 
League is so modern that everyone conversant with the Base 
Ball of today is familiar with it. This league was organized 
under the title of Western League in 1893, by Ban Johnson, 
then sporting editor of the Cincinnati "Commercial-Tribune;" 
Charles Comiskey, just retired from the management of the 



84 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Cincinnati National League Club; and the late Matt Killilea, a 
thoroughbred sportsman of Milwaukee. The League had a hard 
struggle for some years, but grew in prestige and power under 
Johnson's wise and forceful administration until 1900, when, 
foreseeing the break-up of the National League 12-club combi- 
nation, President Johnson and his advisers decided to place 
themselves in position to take advantage of future possibilities 
and probabilities. 

THE EXPANSION OF I9OO. 



/n 



The first step was the assumption of a title of National sig- 
nificance and, accordingly, the Western League became the titu- 
lar American League. The next step was a demand for permis- 
sion to locate a club in Chicago. This was long and fiercely 
resented by the National League, but the American League was 
insistent to the point of withdrawing from the National Agree- 
ment, and the National League, then torn by fierce internal dis- 
sensions, and in no condition for a fight, finally gave its assent 
and the American League awarded the franchise to Charles 
Comiskey, the latter abandoning St. Paul, and shifting his team 
to Chicago. The National League plant at Cleveland was also 
purchased by the American League and the Grand Rapids fran- 
chise was transferred to Cleveland. The move proved wise, a 
good season ensued, and the Chicago Club won the pennant after 
a splendid race^The record: 

Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 82 53 .697 

Milwaukee 79 58 .577 

Indianapolis 71 64 .526 

Detroit 71 67 .514 

The champion Chicago team was composed as follows: 
Denzer, Fisher, Katoll and Patterson, pitchers; Buckley, Sug- 
den. Wood, catchers; Isbell, Padden, Hartman, basemen; Shu- 
gart, shortstop; Hoy, Dillard, McFarland, Brodie, Shearon, out- 
fielders; Charles Comiskey, manager. The batting leader was 
John Ganzel, of Kansas City, with .391. 

major LEAGUE STATUS FOR I9OI 

was reached through the American League's further expansion. 
In 1900 the National League had reduced its circuit to eight 



Club. 


W. 


L. 


Pet. 


Kansas City 


. . . . 69 


70 


.496 


Cleveland 


. . . . 63 


73 


.463 


Buffalo 


61 


78 
86 


.439 


Minneapolis 


. . . . 53 


.381 



American League 85 

clubs by buying out the Cleveland, Louisville, Baltimore and 
Washington Clubs. The Cleveland property was sold to the 
American League and the other cities were permitted to lie idle. 
The American League asked for the Washington and Baltimore 
territory and permission to place a club in Philadelphia. This 
was refused by the National League. The American League 
thereupon withdrew from the National Agreement and reorgan- 
ized its circuit, its five-year agreement having expired. The 
movement was strongly financed from within the American 
League. Indianapolis, Kansas City, Minneapolis and Buffalo 
were abandoned for Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia and 
Boston. A fierce war with the National League resulted, in 
which the latter suffered heavily in the loss of patronage and 
star players. The expansion movement proved popular in the 
Eastern cities and the race also was well contested. Chicago 
again won the championship. The record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 83 53 .610 

Boston 79 57 .581 

Detroit 74 61 .548 

Athletics 74 62 .544 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Baltimore 68 65 .511 

Washington 61 72 .459 

Cleveland 54 82 .397 

Milwaukee 48 89 .350 



The champion Chicago team was manned as follows: Grif- 
fith, Piatt, Callahan, Patterson, Katoll, pitchers; W. Sullivan 
and Sugden, catchers; Isbell, Mertes and Hartman, basemen; 
Shugart, shortstop; F'. Jones, H. McFarland, Hoy and C. Fos- 
ter, outfielders; Clark Griffith, manager. Napoleon Lajoie, of 
the Athletics, led the League in batting, with .422. 

THE SEASON OF I902. 

In this year the American League "carried the war into 
Africa," by making further extensive raids for star National 
League players, and transferred the Milwaukee franchise to St. 
Louis. In mid-season John J. McGraw, chief stockholder and 
manager of the Baltimore Club, sold out his club to the National 
League, transferring himself and most of his star players to the 
New York Club. The American League, however, averted dis- 
aster by placing another team in Baltimore to finish the season. 
This underhanded proceeding turned the wavering scale in the 
East toward the American League and the balance of the sea- 
son was remarkably successful in point of public interest and 



86 



Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



enthusiasm. The Athletics, of Philadelphia, won the cham- 
pionship after a splendid race with the St. Louis all-star club 
clear to the wire. The record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Athletics 83 53 .610 

St. Louis 78 58 .574 

Boston 77 60 .562 

Chicago 74 60 .552 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Cleveland 69 67 .507 

Washington 61 75 .449 

Detroit 52 83 .385 

Baltimore 50 88 .362 



The champion Athletic team was composed of the follow- 
ing: Wilson, Mitchell, Plank, Waddell, Hustings, pitchers; 
Shreck and Powers, catchers; H. Davis, Bonner, Murphy, L. 
Cross, basemen; M. Cross, shortstop; Hartsel, Fultz, Seybold, 
outfielders ; Connie Mack, manager. The League batting leader 
was Ed Delahanty, of Washington, with .376. In this year, 
Matthew Killilea, one of the organizers of the American League, 
and president of the Milwaukee Club up to 1901, inclusive, died 
of pleurisy. 

PEACE IN 1903. 

In the Fall of 1902 Harry C. PulHam was elected president 
of the National League by the peace party in that organization 
and overtures by the National League to the American League 
for terms of peace resulted in a truce, the Cincinnati Peace 
Treaty and the mid-season formulation and adoption of the 
present National Agreement, which expressly prohibits con- 
solidation of clubs in double-club cities, or circuit changes 
in either league without consent of the other league, thus 
assuring stability. Before this had been done the American 
League entered New York, transferring the Baltimore franchise 
to that city. The Boston Club won the championship with ease, 
this being the first open race since expansion. The record: 



Club. W. L. Pet 

Boston 91 47 .659 

Athletics 75 60 .556 

Cleveland 77 63 .550 

New York 72 62 .537 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Detroit 65 71 .478 

St. Louis 65 74 .468 

Chicago 60 77 .438 

Washington 41 94 .314 



The champion Boston team was as follows: Cy Young, 
Dineen, Winter, Gibson, pitchers; Criger, Farrell, J. Stahl, 
catchers; Lachance, Ferris and Collins, basemen; Parent, short- 
stop ; Dougherty, C. Stahl, Freeman and J. O'Brien, outfielders. 
James J. Collins, manager. The League's titular batting leader 




Charles W. Somers 

Vice-President of the American League and 
Owner of the Cleveland Club 



American League 



87 



was Charles Farrell, of Boston, with 404 for 17 games ; but the 
actual leader was Lajoie, of Cleveland, with .355 for 126 games. 
In this year the American League adopted the National League 
Playing Rules, including the "foul-strike rule," which the 
National League had adopted in 1901. 

THE SEASON OF I904. 

This year was uneventful except as both major leagues 
recovered largely from the effects of the two-years' war. Boston 
again won the championship, but only after a hot race with New 
York, the pennant question not being settled until the last day 
of the race, when New York lost the deciding game of the race 
through a wild pitch by pitcher Chesbro. In this year the 154- 
games schedule was adopted. The record : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 95 59 .617 

New York 92 59 .609 

Chicago 89 65 .578 

Cleveland 86 65 .570 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Athleties 71 70 .536 

St. Louis 65 87 .428 

Detroit 62 90 .408 

Washington 38 113 .251 



The champion Boston team this year was made up as fol- 
lows: Young, Dineen, Gibson, Tannehill, Winter, pitchers; 
Criger, Farrell, Doran, catchers; Lachance, Ferris, Collins, 
Unglaub, basemen; Parent, shortstop; Selbach, C. Stahl and 
Freeman, outfielders; James J. Collins, manager. Lajoie, of 
Cleveland, with .381, again led the League batsmen. In this 
year pitcher G. E. Waddell, of the Athletics, established a major 
league season strike-out record with 343 strike-outs in 46 games. 

THE SEASON OF I905. 

In this year the Boston team fell off badly while the Ath- 
letics and Chicagos came to the front early in the race and had 
a terrific struggle clear to the wire, the disposition of the pen- 
nant not being settled until within two days of the close of the 
season. In this season the total attendance was record-breaking. 
The season's record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Athletics 92 56 .621 

Chieago 92 60 .605 

Detroit 79 74 .516 

Boston 78 74 .513 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Cleveland 76 78 .494 

New York 71 78 .477 

Washington 64 87 .421 

St. Louis 54 99 .354 



88 



Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



The champion Athletic team was manned as follows : Plank, 
Waddell, Bender, Henley, Coakley, Dygert, pitchers; Powers, 
Schreck, Barton, catchers; H. Davis, Murphy, L. Cross and 
Knight, basemen; M. Cross, shortstop; Hartsel, Lord, Hoffman, 
Seybold, outfielders; Connie Mack, manager. Lajoie, of Cleve- 
land, for the third time, led the League in batting, with .388. 

THE season of I906. 

This year was remarkable for continued good attendance 
and another close race. Five clubs were in the fight all of the 
time and in the last two months of the season Chicago, which 
at one time seemed distanced, made a wonderful rally, including 
19 successive victories, finally winning out "by a nose" from New 
York. The record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 93 58 .616 

New York 90 61 .596 

Cleveland 89 64 .582 

Athletics 78 67 .538 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

St. Louis 76 73 .510 

Detroit 71 78 .477 

Washington 55 95 .367 

Boston 49 105 .318 



The champion Chicago Club was manned as follows : Walsh, 
White, Altrock, Patterson, Owen, F. Smith, pitchers; Sullivan, 
McFarland, Towne, catchers; J. Donohue, Isbell, L. Tannehill, 
Rohe, Dundon, basemen; G. Davis, shortstop; Hahn, Dough- 
erty, Isbell, O'Neill, outfielders; Fielder Jones, manager. The 
batting leader of the League this year was George Stone, of St. 
Louis, with .358. 

THE SEASON OF I907. 

In this campaign the American League enjoyed one of the 
most wonderful races on record in which five teams were in the 
race until within three weeks of the close ; three were in the fight 
until almost the end, and two, the Detroits and Athletics, fought 
it out to the wire, the former winning out by a wonderful burst 
of speed while on the road. This was Detroit's first pennant 
captured in 20 years. The record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Detroit 92 58 .613 

Athletics 88 57 .607 

Chicago 87 64 .576 

Cleveland 85 67 .559 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

New York 70 78 .473 

St. Louis 69 83 .454 

Boston 59 90 .396 

Washington 49 102 .325 




American League Presidents in Office to 1913 Inclusive 



1 — Charles A. Comiskey, Chicago, co-founder with Ban B. Johnson. 
2 — Charles Somers, Cleveland, 13 years' service, 1900-1913. 3 — Joseph J. 
Lannin, Boston, one year's service, 1914. 4 — Benjamin F. Shibe, Philadel- 
phia, 12 years' service, 1901-1913. 5 — Frank J. Farrell, New York, 10 
years' service, 1903-1913. 6 — Benjamin S. Minor, Washington, 2 years' 
service, 1911-1913. 7 — Robert L. Hedges, St. Louis, 10 years' service, 
1903-1913. 8— Frank J. Navin, Detroit. 9 years' service, 1904-1913. 



American League 89 

The champion Detroit Club was manned as follows: Dono- 
van, Mullin, Siever, Killian, Willett, pitchers; Schmidt, Payne, 
Archer, Erwin, catchers; Rossman, Schaefer, Lowe, Coughlin, 
basemen; O'Leary, shortstop; D. Jones, Crawford, Cobb, out- 
fielders; Hugh Jennings, manager. The league's champion bats- 
man this year was outfielder Tyrus Cobb, of Detroit, with .350. 

THE SEASON OF I908. 

In the year 1908 the American League enjoyed another one 
of the close races for which that organization had become pro- 
verbial — with as thrilling a finish as could be imagined or 
devised. Six clubs were in the race for half of the season, but 
in the second half the Western teams had the battle to them- 
selves. In the last week of the campaign Detroit, Cleveland and 
St. Louis were running neck-and-neck, and within three days of 
the close every one of the three was still a championship possi- 
bility. On the first of the three days Cleveland was eliminated 
by a defeat at the hands of St. Louis ; next, on the last day but 
one, Chicago placed itself ahead of Detroit by defeating that 
team; and in the last game of the season Detroit won out "by a 
nose" by defeating Chicago, the latter thus not only losing the 
pennant, but the place as well, as their defeat sent them to third 
place, behind Cleveland, which captured the place by a shade. 
Thus for the second time in the history of the American League 
the championship hinged upon the last day's play between the 
two leaders, the first time being in 1904, when Boston barely 
beat out New York, thanks to a wild pitch by Chesbro. Follow- 
ing is the season record : 



Club. W. ,L. Pet. 

Detroit 90 63 .588 

Cleveland 90 64 .584 

Chicago 88 64 .579 

St. Louis 83 69 .546 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 75 79 .487 

Athleties 68 85 .444 

Washington 67 85 .441 

New York 51 103 .331 



The Detroit team, which won the championship for the sec- 
ond successive time, was composed as follows: Manager, Hugh 
Jennings ; pitchers, W. Donovan, Mullin, Killian, Summers, Win- 
ter, Willett; catchers, I. Thomas, Schmidt; first base, Rossman; 
second base, Downs and Schaefer; third base, Coughlin; short- 
stops, O'Leary, Bush; outfielders, Mclntyre, Crawford, Cobb, 
D. Jones. The titular batting leader this year was pitcher Dode 



90 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Criss, of St. Louis, who was used principally as substitute bats- 
man, and in that capacity batted for .341 in 82 times at bat in 
64 games ; but the real batting leader was again Cobb, of Detroit, 
who batted for .324 in 150 games. In this year was introduced 
the rule prohibiting the soiling of a new ball by the pitcher or 
other players. In this season catcher Charles Street, of the 
Washington team, for the first authentic time, performed the 
feat of catching a ball dropped from the Washington Monu- 
ment, the ball descending 545 feet at the estimated rate of 135 
feet per second when it reached the catcher's hands encased in 
the ordinary catcher's mitt. The impact of the ball against the 
catcher's mitt is calculated at 200 pounds and the velocity in the 
last second was tremendous. Street's feat was achieved on 
August 14, 1908, on his thirteenth attempt, after 12 failures to 
gauge the ball. In this year also the American League intro- 
duced a new standard ball, the cork-center ball invented by 
Benjamin F. Shibe, president of the Athletic Club, and member 
of the A. J. Reach Company, of Philadelphia, manufacturers of 
the official ball of the American League. 

THE SEASON OF I909. 

In this year the Detroit team won the championship for the 
third successive time — ^this being a new record for the American 
League, successive pennant-captures having heretofore been 
limited to two years, once by Boston and next by Detroit. The 
Chicagos and Athletics had also won the pennant twice since the 
1901 expansion to major league status, but not successively. By 
its triple success the Detroit Club also made a new record for 
Detroit, as the only other champion team Detroit had — ^the 
National League team of 1887 — won the championship for but 
one year. Following is the complete 1909 season record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Detroit 98 54 .645 

Athletics 95 58 .621 

Boston 88 63 .583 

Chicago 78 74 .513 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

New York 74 77 .490 

Cleveland 71 82 .464 

St. Louis 61 89 .407 

Washington 42 110 .276 



The champion Detroit team this year was composed of 
Hugh Jennings, manager; pitchers, Killian, Donovan, Speer, 
Suggs, Willett, Winter, Summers, MuUin; catchers, Schmidt, 
Stanage, Beckendorf; infielders, T. Jones, Rossman, Schaefer, 




Famous American League Players of Early 
Days After Expansion 

1 — Harry Davis, first base. 2 — Napoleon Lajoie, second base. 3 — 

James Collins, third base. 4 — R. Wallace, shortstop. 5 — J. Burkett, left 

field. 6— D. Fultz, centre field. 7— S. Crawford, right field. 8— W. D. 
Sullivan, catcher. 



American League 



91 



J. Delahanty, Killifer, Moriarty, O'Leary, Bush; outfielders, 
D. Jones, Mclntyre, Crawford, Cobb. The League batting 
leader in 1909 was Cobb, of Detroit, with .377 in 156 games. 
Cobb also led in runs scored with 116; in stolen bases with "j^, 
and in home runs with nine. The Playing Rule changes made 
in this year are noted in our National League 1909 record. In 
this season second baseman Neal Ball, of Cleveland, on July 19, 
made a triple play unassisted against Boston. In April of this 
year the magnificent new Shibe Park, the finest base ball struc- 
ture in the American League to date, was dedicated at Phila- 
delphia. 

THE SEASON OF I9IO. 

In this year the Detroit Club's winning streak was broken, 
the Athletics, of Philadelphia, winning the championship with 
the greatest number of victories for one season of record in this 
league. Incidentally the Athletics also established a new record 
for themselves by winning the championship three times in lo 
years — a feat only equaled by Detroit. The 1909 champion 
team this year fell to third place, being nosed out by New York 
in the final week of the race. Following is the complete 1910 
season record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Athletics 102 48 .680 

New York 88 63 .583 

Detroit 86 68 .558 

Boston 81 72 .529 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Cleveland 71 81 .467 

Chicago 68 85 .444 

Washington 66 85 .437 

St. Louis 47 107 .305 



The champion Athletic team was manned as follows: Man- 
ager, Connie Mack; pitchers. Plank, Bender, Coombs, Morgan, 
Krause, Dygert ; catchers, I. Thomas, Lapp, Livingston, Donahue ; 
first base, H. Davis and Houser; second base, E. Collins; third 
base. Baker; shortstop, J. Barry and Mclnnis; outfielders. Old- 
ring, Strunk, B. Lord, D. Murphy, Hartsel, Heitmuller. The 
titular batting champion of the League was Joe Jackson, of 
Cleveland, with .387 for 20 games; but the actual leader was 
Ty Cobb, of Detroit, with .385 for 140 games. The batting 
championship was not decided until the last day of the season 
when Lajoie, of Cleveland made eight hits in eight times at bat 
against St. Louis pitchers, and only lost out to Cobb by a per- 
centage point. In this year Eddie Collins, of the Athletics, made 



92 



Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



a new league record with 8i stolen bases; and pitcher Coombs, 
of the Athletics, also made a new pitching record by not being 
scored on for 46 consecutive innings. Thomas J. Loftus, for- 
mer manager of the Washington Club, died in this year. Dur- 
ing this season also magnificent new ball parks at Chicago and 
Cleveland were dedicated. No change in the Playing Rules were 
made in this year. Pitcher Walter Johnson, of Washington, 
struck out 313 men in 42 games pitched — a season record, but 
not equaling Waddell's major league record of 343 strike-outs 
in 46 games, made in 1904. In this year, the Reach cork-center 
ball, which had been made the official ball of the American 
League, proved not only successful in all ways as a standard ball, 
but it served to appreciably increase team and individual batting 
averages. 

the season of 191 1. 

In this year the Athletics again won the championship, 
which was a new record for that club, it having failed to repeat 
after the pennant-captures of 1902 and 1905. In the 191 1 race 
the Athletics were almost left at the post, but worked up clear 
from the bottom and won out with a margin almost equal to that 
of their record-breaking performance in 191 o. The Athletics 
thus made a record as being the first American League team to 
win over a century of victories in a season; the first to accom- 
plish this feat two years in succession ; and the only team to cap- 
ture four pennants in the 11 years of the American League's 
existence as a major organization. The complete 191 1 record 
follows : 



Club. ' W. L. Pet. 

Athletics 101 50 .669 

Detroit 89 65 .578 

Cleveland 80 73 .523 

Chicago 77 74 .5099 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 78 75 .5098 

New York 76 76 .500 

Washington 64 90 .416 

St. Louis 45 107 .236 



The champion Athletic team was manned as follows : Man- 
ager, Connie Mack; pitchers. Plank, Bender, Morgan, Coombs, 
Krause, Russell, Danforth ; catchers, I. Thomas, Lapp, Livingston ; 
first basemen, Mclnnis, Davis; second baseman, E. Collins; 
third baseman. Baker; shortstop, Barry; substitute infielder, 
Derrick; outfielders, Oldring, B. Lord, D. Murphy, Strunk, 
Hogan. Cobb, of Detroit, again led the League batsmen with 




Famous American League Players of Present Time 



1 — Harold Chase, first base. 2 — Edward Collins, second base. 3 — 
Frank Baker, third base. 4 — Henry Wagner, shortstop. 5 — T. Speaker, 
right field. 6— T. Cobb, centre field. 7— R. Oldring, left field. 8— 
W. Schang, catcher. 



American League 



93 



.420 in 146 games, for the fifth successive season. Cobb also 
made a new record with 83 stolen bases, led the League with 147 
runs, and made a new season record with 247 safe hits. Pitcher 
Ed Walsh, in a "fungo batting" contest at Chicago, batted a fly 
that covered 419 feet and a half inch — a world's record. No 
changes in the Playing Rules were made in this year. 

THE SEASON OF I912. 

In the 19 12 season the Athletics failed to realize general 
expectation and prediction and not only lost the championship, 
but also the place, through over-confidence which caused lagging 
in the first half of the race, and through failure of certain 
players to keep in condition. The Boston team played steady 
ball from start to finish, secured the lead on June lo, was never 
again headed, and finished first with the biggest total of vic- 
tories ever made in this league. The next greatest surprise of 
the season was the totally unexpected rise of the Washington 
team, which made one run of 17 consecutive victories — 16 of 
them on foreign fields — and another run of 10 straight vic- 
tories, and was always in the running, finishing a good second 
for the first time. Conversely, the New York team made its 
worst showing and finished a very poor tail-ender. Following 
is the complete 191 2 record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 105 47 .691 

Washington 91 61 .599 

Athletics 90 62 .592 

Chicago 78 76 .506 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Cleveland 75 78 .490 

Detroit 69 84 .451 

St. Louis 53 101 .344 

New York 50 102 .329 



The champion Boston team was manned as follows: Man- 
ager, Jacob G. Stahl; pitchers, Wood, R. Collins, C. Hall, Bedi- 
ent, O'Brien, Pape; catchers, Carrigan, Cady, J. Thomas, Nuna- 
maker ; first base, Stahl and Bradley ; second base, Yerkes ; third 
base, L. Gardner; shortstop, C. Wagner; utility infielders, Engle 
and Ball; outfielders, Speaker, Lewis, Hooper, Henricksen and 
Krug. The batting leader this year was Cobb, of Detroit, with 
.410 in 140 games. This was Cobb's sixth successive year as 
batting champion. Outfielder Milan, of Washington, made a 
new base running record with 88 stolen bases. Pitcher MuUin, 
of Detroit, and pitcher Hamilton, of St. Louis, each pitched a 
no-hit game. Pitchers Johnson, of Washington, and Wood, of 



94 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Boston, each won i6 successive games pitched. Fenway Park, 
the new home of the Boston Club, was dedicated in the Spring. 
In May, the Detroit team, while at Philadelphia, went on strike 
because President Johnson indefinitely suspended player Cobb 
for assaulting a spectator in the New York grounds. The strike 
was ended in three days, but out of this incident grew the 
organization of the Base Ball Players' Fraternity, which was 
formed by Lawyer David L. Fultz, a former ball player. Presi- 
dent Thomas C. Noyes, of the Washington Club, died on August 
21, in this year. 

THE season of I913. 

The 191 3 campaign was neither exciting or eventful. The 
Athletics, of Philadelphia, made virtually a runaway race, as 
they were never headed after they had gained a clear lead on 
April 24. The feature of the season was the surprising start 
and run of the Cleveland team. The team, never lower than 
third, was in second place continuously from May 18 to Sep- 
tember 2y, and was the only team to give the Athletics any 
kind of a battle for two-thirds of the campaign. Following is 
the complete season record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Athletics 96 57 .627 

Washington 90 64 .584 

Cleveland 86 66 .566 

Boston 79 71 .527 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chicago 78 74 .513 

Detroit 66 87 .431 

New York 57 94 .377 

St. Louis 57 96 .373 



The champion Athletic team was manned as follows: Man- 
ager, Connie Mack; pitchers. Bender, Plank, Coombs (ill all 
season), Carroll Brown, Houck, Pennock, Wyckoff, Shawkey, 
Bush; catchers, I. Thomas, Lapp, Schang; infielders, Mclnnis, 
E. Collins, Baker, Barry, Orr, H. Davis, Lavan; outfielders, 
Oldring, Strunk, D. Murphy, E. Murphy, J. Walsh. No rec- 
ords were broken or made in this season. The noteworthy 
features of the season were a run of 15 consecutive victories 
by the Athletics; a run of 14 straight victories, and of 56 con- 
secutive shut-out innings by pitcher Walter Johnson, of Wash- 
ington; and the capture of the first 11 games pitched by novice 
Boehling, of Washington. The batting leader of the League 
was Tyrus Cobb, of Detroit, with .390 for 123 games — this 
being his seventh consecutive year as League batting leader. The 



American League 95 

only exceptional incidents of the year were the acquisition by 
New York of Manager Frank Chance, formerly manager of the 
Chicago National League team; the mid-season deposition of 
Manager Jake Stahl, of Boston, in favor of catcher Carrigan; 
and later the displacement of Manager Stovall, of St. Louis, by 
the club secretary. Branch Rickey. The Fall meeting of the 
League was held November 6, in order to permit President 
Comiskey, of the Chicago Club, to participate prior to his 
departure on the White Sox-Giants Tour of the World, pro- 
moted by himself and Manager McGraw, of New York. At this 
meeting a list of 17 demands for contractual changes and other 
concessions, presented by the Base Ball Players' Fraternity, was 
referred to the National Commission for action at its meeting 
in January, 19 14. 




H. D. ("Denny") M'Knight 

First President of the Old American Association, 

1882 to 1886 



(Beprodueed from Spalding's "America's National Game.") 




THE OLD ASSOCIATION 

Jf irs(t Csffl^apeti tt^t JBmh^vs^ttm of iHlajor leasuesJ Winhtv 
0nt Agreement, anii Hibeb Hong Cnougf) to OTittren tfje 
^cope of tlje (game antr to Compel tfte ^troption of jWanp 
ileebeb 3^eforms( in ttie Conbuct of $rof e^^s^tonal pa£(e ^aU 

'O history of Base Ball would be complete 
and correct without a review of an 
organization now dead, which was in its 
time one of the greatest factors in the 
development of Base Ball to national 
greatness. No better epitome of that 

(■"^ ^ -■■" 1^^ I — I defunct organization's career can be given 
' than the one published by the author of 
this History and Records of Base Ball through Philadelphia 
Sporting Life in pamphlet form some years ago. The story of 
the old American Association forms an interesting, but melan- 
choly, chapter in Base Ball history. After a splendid start it 
paltered through lo years of varying fortunes, always handi- 
capped by incompetence and deceit, and finally fell a victim to 
the foes within the citadel. Nevertheless, it was the only organi- 
zation — prior to the advent of the American League — that could 
and did give the National League a hard battle for supremacy. 
It deserved a better fate because it did much to enlarge the scope 
of the game, made Sunday ball an institution in the West, intro- 
duced the percentage system of deciding championships, and 
developed many great players. The fatal mistake of the organi- 
zation was to start on a 25-cent admission basis. This made the 
existence of most of the clubs precarious as salaries rose, neces- 
sitated constant shifts in circuit, and made the 50-cent National 
League a tempting field for desertion. The American Associa- 
tion was also 

ALWAYS FATALLY HANDICAPPED 

in leaders. The loyal men were incompetent, while the able or 
powerful ones were always disloyal and constantly scheming for 
ultimate National League membership. Under such conditions 
the American Association was never a match for the National 
League in legislation, as was shown when it permitted the inser- 



98 



Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



tion in the National Agreement of a clause permitting any club 
to resign from either league in November of each year. Under 
this clause, which was bound to handicap a 25-cent league as 
against a 50-cent league, the American Association was suc- 
cessively stripped of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Brook- 
lyn, four of its best cities, and soon reduced to a manifest sec- 
ondary position, notwithstanding a large and devoted following 
all over the country. 

association organized in 1882. 

In 1 88 1 the Athletic Club, of Philadelphia, an independent 
club, member of the League Alliance, made a Western exhibi- 
tion tour, playing at Pittsburgh, Columbus, Louisville and Cin- 
cinnati, all without league connection. This tour aroused Base 
Ball interest to such a degree that Justus Thorner, of Cincinnati, 
and H. D. McKnight, of Pittsburgh, set about the task of organ- 
izing a new league of national proportions. The result was the 
organization of the American Association at Cincinnati, Novem- 
ber 2, 1881, by the Alleghenys, of Pittsburgh; Athletics, of 
Philadelphia; Eclipse, of Louisville; Atlantics, of Brooklyn, and 
Browns, of St. Louis. Mr. H. D. McKnight, of Pittsburgh, was 
elected president; J. H. Pank, of Louisville, vice-president; and 
James A. Williams, of Columbus, secretary. At the Spring 
meeting, held in Philadelphia, the Atlantics, of Brooklyn, with- 
drew, Baltimore being admitted. Notwithstanding necessarily 
experimental teams the first race was good and the season suc- 
cessful. Cincinnati won the first championship flag and has 
never won another since. The record, decided for the first time 
on percentage, was as follows: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Cincinnati 54 26 .670 

Eclipse 44 35 .550 

Athletics 40 35 .530 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Allegheny 39 39 .500 

St. Louis 36 45 .460 

Baltimore 19 54 .260 



The champion Cincinnati team was composed of Will White 
and Harry McCormick, pitchers; Snyder and Powers, catchers; 
Stearns, McPhee and Carpenter, basemen; Fulmer, shortstop; 
Somers, Maculler, Wheeler, outfielders; Luff and Kemmler, 
substitutes; Charles Fulmer, manager. Louis Browning, of 
Louisville, led the Association batsmen with .382. 



The Old Association 



99 



THE SEASON OF 1 883. 

The financial success of the 1882 season was such that all 
clubs raided the National League for players, the Athletic Club, 
of Philadelphia, being most successful. The result was an 
unprecedented degree of contract-breaking on both sides. The 
circuit was also increased by the admission of Columbus, O., 
and the Metropolitan Club, of New York, which was owned by 
Messrs. Day and Mutrie, who simultaneously placed a New 
York Club in the National League, which proved a serious thing 
for the American Association later. The Athletics, of Philadel- 
phia, won the championship after a terrific race, during which 
they drew the largest attendance known in Philadelphia to that 
date. The record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Athletics 66 32 .670 

St. Louis 65 33 .660 

Cincinnati 62 36 .640 

Metropolitan 54 32 .560 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Louisville 52 45 .530 

Columbus 32 65 .330 

Pittsburgh 30 68 .300 

Baltimore 28 68 .292 



The champion Athletic team was composed of Matthews, 
Corey, Bradley, Jones, pitchers; J. O'Brien, Rowan, catchers; 
Stovey, Strieker, Bradley and Blackiston, basemen; Moynahan, 
shortstop; Birchall, Bradley, A. Knight, outfielders; William 
Sharsig, manager. The batting leader of the Association was 
Tom Mansell, of St. Louis, with .383. 

THE SEASON OF 1 884. 

In the Fall of 1883 the National League called a truce to 
the war and the result was the first National Agreement. It was 
made by the National League, American Association and North- 
western League and was called the Tripartite Agreement. This 
agreement, with its new Reserve Rule, led to the formation of 
the outlaw Union League. As a war measure the American 
Association was persuaded by the National League into increas- 
ing its circuit to 12 clubs. Washington, Brooklyn, Columbus 
and Toledo were admitted and Wheeler WickofT, of Columbus, 
vSucceeded Jas. A. Williams as secretary. This unwieldy circuit 
proved a complete failure, and all clubs lost more or less money. 
The Washington Club dropped out in August and the Richmond 
Club seceded from the Eastern League to take Washington's 



100 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



place. The Metropolitan Club, of New York, won the cham- 
pionship and yet lost money heavily. The record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Metropolitan 75 32 .700 

Columbus 69 39 .638 

Louisville 68 40 .629 

St. Louis 67 40 .626 

Cincinnati 68 41 .623 

Baltimore 63 43 .594 

Athletics 61 47 .564 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Toledo 46 58 .442 

Brooklyn 40 64 .384 

Virginia 12 30 .285 

Pittsburgh 30 78 .277 

Indianapolis 29 78 .271 

Washington 12 51 .190 



The champion Metropolitan Club was composed of Keefe 
and Lynch, pitchers; Holbert and Ripschlager, catchers; Orr, 
Crane, Esterbrook, basemen; Nelson, shortstop; Kennedy, Rose- 
man, Brady, outfielders; Troy, substitute; James Mutrie, man- 
ager. The batting leader of the Association was Thomas Ester- 
brook, of the Mets., with .408. 

the season of 1885. 

In this year the American Association returned to the eight- 
club basis. Toledo withdrew, Columbus sold its team to Pitts- 
burgh and resigned, and Indianapolis and Richmond were 
dropped. Meantime the Cleveland Club sold its team to Brook- 
lyn and withdrew from the National League. The latter, after 
a long wrangle with the Association, admitted Henry V. Lucas' 
St. Louis Club and the American Association submitted, in 
return for the privilege of putting a club in Chicago at some 
future period. This season was a good one financially, although 
the St. Louis Club was never headed after the second week and 
won the championship easily. The record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

St. Louis 79 33 .708 

Cincinnati 63 49 .562 

Pittsburgh 56 55 .504 

Athletics 55 57 .491 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Brooklyn 53 59 .473 

Louisville 53 59 .473 

Metropolitan 44 64 .406 

Baltimore 41 68 .377 



i The champion St. Louis Club was composed of Foutz, Car- 
ruthers, McGinnis, pitchers; Bushong, Sullivan, Broughton, 
catchers; Comiskey, Robinson, Latham, basemen; W. Gleason, 
shortstop; O'Neil, Welch and Nichol in the outfield. C. Com- 
iskey, manager. The leading batsman of the Association was 
Browning, of Louisville, with .367. 



^^, 







'1 




Charles H. Byrne 

President of Brooklyn Club and Real Leader of the old 
American Association 



The Old Association 



lOI 



THE SEASON OF 1 886. 

In the Fall of 1885 the Metropolitan Club transferred pitcher 
Keefe and infielder Esterbrook to the New York National 
League Club. For this the club was to be expelled by the Asso- 
ciation. On the eve of the meeting Messrs. Day and Mutrie 
sold the club to Erastus Wiman, of Staten Island. The x\sso- 
ciation regarded the sale as fictitious, fined Manager Mutrie 
$500 and expelled him for treachery to the Association, dropped 
the Metropolitan Club and admitted the National Club, of Wash- 
ington. Mr. Wirnan immediately secured a preliminary injunc- 
tion against the Association. At a final hearing December 19, 
in Philadelphia, before Judges Thayer and Arnold, the injunc- 
tion was made permanent. The Association thereupon rein- 
stated the Metropolitan Club under Mr. Wiman at a reconvened 
meeting in New York in December. The Metropolitan Club 
played out the season on a new Staten Island ground provided 
by Mr. Wiman. During this season the Association deposed 
President Denny McKnight and elected Wheeler C. Wikoff 
president-secretary-treasurer. Financially the season was very 
successful, although St. Louis won the championship easily. The 
record : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

St. Louis 93 46 .669 

Pittsburgh 80 57 .584 

Brooklyn 76 61 .555 

Louisville 66 70 .485 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Cineinnati 65 72 .471 

Athletics 63 73 .467 

Metropolitan 53 82 .393 

Baltimore 48 83 .366 



The champion St. Louis team was Foutz, Carruthers, Hud- 
son, McGinnis, pitchers; Bushong, Kemmler, catchers; Comis- 
key, Robinson, Latham, basemen ;* Gleason, shortstop; O'Neil, 
Welch, Nichol, outfielders; Charles Comiskey, manager. Dave 
Orr, of the Metropolitans, 'with .346, led the Association bats- 
men. In this year the American Association followed the 
National League move of 1883 and abolished the "out on foul 
bound." 

THE SEASON OF 1 887. 

In November of 1886, on the eve of the National League 
meeting, the Pittsburgh Club resigned from the Association and 
was admitted to the National League. To fill the vacancy the 
Association admitted Cleveland, with the former National 



102 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



League owners as backers and James A. Williams as manager. 
The season was an extraordinary financial success, although St. 
Louis won the pennant with ease for the third time. The record : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

St. Louis 95 40 .704 

Cincinnati 81 54 .600 

Baltimore 77 58 .570 

Louisville 76 60 .559 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Athletics 64 69 .481 

Brooklyn 60 74 .448 

Metropolitan 44 89 .331 

Cleveland 39 92 .298 



The champion St. Louis team was composed of Foutz, Car- 
ruthers, Hudson, King, pitchers; Bushong, Boyle, catchers; 
Comiskey, Robinson, Latham, basemen; Gleason, shortstop; 
O'Neil, Welch, Sylvester, outfielders; Charles Comiskey, man- 
ager. The leading batsman of the Association was "Tip" O'Neil, 
of St. Louis, with .492, all bases on balls this season counting as 
base hits, and four strikes ruling instead of three strikes, in the 
Association, as in the National League. 

THE season of 1 888. 

In this year the Athletic Club was purchased by Messrs. 
Whittaker, Pennypacker and Sharsig; the St. Louis Club sold 
Carruthers, Foutz and Bushong to Brooklyn; Welch and Glea- 
son to the Athletics. The Brooklyn Club purchased the Metro- 
politan Club from Mr. Wiman, peddled out the players and 
transferred the franchise to Kansas City. In this season the 
Association also raised the admission rate to 50 cents, but the 
experiment was such a failure that the Association was forced 
to return to the 25-cent rate in June. This made the season a 
financial failure. The St. Louis Club, though shorn of five of 
its greatest players, won the championship for the fourth suc- 
cessive time. The record : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

St. Louis 92 43 .681 

Brooklyn 88 52 .629 

Athletics 81 52 .609 

Cincinnati 79 54 .594 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Baltimore 57 80 .423 

Cleveland 49 82 .374 

Louisville 48 87 .360 

Kansas City 43 89 .326 



The champion St. Louis team was King, Hudson, Cham- 
berlin, Devlin, pitchers; Boyle, Milligan, catchers; Comiskey, 
Robinson, McGarr, Latham, Herr, White, basemen; O'Neil, H. 
Lyons, T. McCarty, outfielders; Charles Comiskey, manager. 




Leading Men in the Halcyon Days of the 
American Association 



1 — Denny McKnight, of Pittsburgh, first president of the Association, 
1882-1886. 2 — Wheeler Wikoff, of Columbus, O., second president of the 
organization, 1886-1900. 3 — Chris Von der Ahe, St. Louis, president of 
the four-time champion Browns. 4 — L. C. Krauthoff, one of the shining 
legal lights of the American Association. 5 — Conrad Born, Columbus, 
O., president of the Columbus Club in 1889-90. 6 — Zach Phelps, Louis- 
ville, Ky., the chief counsel of the organization. 



The Old Association 



103 



"Tip" O'Neil, of St. Louis, with .332, again led the Association 
batsmen. 

THE SEASON OF 1889. 

In November, 1888, the Cleveland Club resigned and entered 
the National League, and Columbus took Cleveland's place in 
the Association. The pennant race between the St. Louis and 
Brooklyn teams was close, became personal, and ended in a fac- 
tional fight. Toward the close of the season Manager Comiskey 
took his team from the field at Brooklyn because, in his opinion, 
it was too dark to play, although Umpire Goldsmith refused to 
call the game and then forfeited it to Brooklyn. On the follow- 
ing day (Sunday) Manager Comiskey also failed to present his 
team for a scheduled game at Ridgewood and this game, too, 
was declared forfeited to Brooklyn. The St. Louis Club 
appealed and declined to pay a fine of $1500 per game for wilful 
forfeiture as provided by the constitution. At a special meeting 
of the Board of Directors composed of the Athletic, Columbus, 
Louisville and St. Louis Clubs, held in September, this Board 
over-rode the constitution and playing rules, set aside an 
umpire's decision on a matter of fact, and deprived Brooklyn of 
a game. The Brooklyn Club won the championship after all, 
after the hardest fight in Association history, but never forgave 
the injustice perpetrated by the Board of Directors. The record : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Brooklyn 93 44 .679 

St. Louis 90 45 .667 

Athletics 75 59 .560 

Cincinnati 79 63 .547 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Baltimore 70 65 .519 

Columbus 61 78 .439 

Kansas City 55 83 .399 

Louisville 27 111 .196 



The champion Brooklyn team was: Carruthers, Terry, 
Hughes, Lovett, pitchers; Clark, Visner, Bushong, catchers; 
Foutz, Collins, Pinkney, basemen; G. Smith, shortstop; O'Brien, 
Corkhill and Burns, outfielders; William McGunnigle, manager. 
Thomas Tucker, of Baltimore, with .375, led the Association 
batsmen. 

THE SEASON OF 189O. 

In the Fall of 1889, in the face of the Brotherhood revolt 
in the National League, the St. Louis-Brooklyn faction fight was 
carried into the Association meeting. A deadlock over the 



I04 



Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



presidency resulted, Brooklyn, Baltimore, Kansas City and Cin- 
cinnati voting for L. C. Krauthoff, of Kansas City; and Colum- 
bus, Louisville, St. Louis and Athletics for Zack Phelps, of Louis- 
ville. Thirty-eight ballots were taken in two days, while all 
other business was blocked. Meantime the Brooklyn and Cin- 
cinnati Clubs were negotiating with the National League and on 
the evening of the second day they resigned from the Associa- 
tion and were admitted to the National League. The Kansas 
City Club then also withdrew. The remaining clubs then elected 
Zack Phelps president and admitted Syracuse to membership. 
Within two weeks the Baltimore Club also withdrew and entered 
the Atlantic Association. Negotiations with John M. Ward for 
amalgamation of the Players' League and American Association 
came to naught. The Rochester and Toledo Clubs were then 
admitted to membership and a new club placed in Brooklyn 
under the management of James C. Kennedy. The season was 
a financial and artistic failure. The Brooklyn Club dropped out 
in August and the Baltimore Club was re-admitted and played 
out the schedule. The Athletic Club became bankrupt in Sep- 
tember, released its star players because of inability to pay sal- 
aries, and finished out the season with a team composed of 
amateurs and semi-professionals. The Louisville team won the 
championship easily. The record: 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Louisville 88 44 .667 

Columbus 70 55 .590 

St. Louis 78 58 .574 

Toledo 68 64 .515 

Rochester 63 63 .500 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Baltimore 15 19 .441 

Syracuse 55 72 .433 

Athletics 54 78 .409 

Brooklyn 26 73 .263 



The champion Louisville team was composed of Stratton, 
Ehret, Daily, Meakin, Goodall, pitchers; Ryan, Bligh, Weck- 
becker, catchers; Taylor, Shinnick, Raymond, basemen; Tom- 
ney, shortstop; Hamburg, Weaver, Wolf, outfielders; John C. 
Chapman, manager. Jimmy Wolf, of Louisville, was actual bat- 
ting leader with .366 for 134 games. 

THE SEASON OF 189I. 

During the Fall and Winter of 1890, after the National 
League had absorbed the Players' League, A. G. Spalding, of 
Chicago, and Allan W. Thurman, of Columbus, O., set about to 




Famous Players of the Old American Association, the 
National League's First Rival 



1 — James E. O'Neill, greatest batsman, of the St. Louis Browns. 
Charles Comiskey, greatest first baseman of the American Association 
Harry D. Stovey, greatest base-runner of the American Association, 
David Foutz, one of leading pitchers in the American Association. 
Arlie Latham, greatest comedian-player of the American Association, 
Curtis Welch, greatest outfielder in the American Association. 7 — William 
E. Gleason, greatest third baseman in the American Association. 8 — Jack 
Boyle, one of the greatest catchers of the American Association. 



o 

3— 
4— 
5— 
6— 



The Old Association 105 

reorganize the American Association. The Players' League 
Clubs in Boston and Philadelphia were turned over to the Ameri- 
can Association. Permission was also given to locate a club in 
Chicago, and a circuit composed of Boston, Philadelphia, Brook- 
lyn, Washington, Columbus, Louisville, Chicago and St. Louis, 
was arranged. It was also stipulated that all reserved Associa- 
tion players of 1890 who had deserted their clubs should be 
returned. A new National Agreement was adopted with a Gov- 
erning Board of Control, composed of Allan W. Thurman, L. 
C. Krauthoff, John I. Rogers. Friction, however, soon arose over 
the obstacles placed in the way of the proposed Chicago Asso- 
ciation Club and the wholesale reservation by National League 
clubs of 1 889- 1 890 reserved players, which made it difficult for 
the Association clubs to fill their teams. The climax of the 
irritation was reached when the Pittsburgh and Boston Clubs, 
respectively, signed Bierbauer and Stovey, reserved Athletic 
players. The matter was appealed to the Board of Control, 
which decided that the Athletic Club had no case or claim 
because the names of these players had been omitted from the 
list handed in by the Athletic Club at the time of reorganization. 
This decision of the Board was unanimous. President Thur- 
man voting against his Association. This aroused the greatest 
fury in Association circles. A special meeting was held in New 
York, February 17, at which President Thurman was deposed 
by unanimous vote, and Mr. L. C. Kramer, of Cincinnati, was 
elected president, and a motion was unanimously passed to with- 
draw from the National Agreement. The Cincinnati Club, as 
represented by A. L. Johnson, was admitted to membership. 
A five-year membership agreement was also adopted. On the 
eve of the season A. L. Johnson sold out his Cincinnati Club to 
the National League for $30,000. But the Association, by quick 
legal proceedings, tied this money up in court, assumed responsi- 
bility as a body of conducting the Cincinnati Club and placed 
Mike Kelly in charge as manager. The National League then 
declared war against the Association and the season was marked 
by a continual succession of conflicting dates and contract- 
breaking transactions. Under the conditions nearly all the clubs 
lost heavily. The Cincinnati Club was a complete failure under 
Mike Kelly's management and with a record of 38 victories and 



io6 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

56 defeats, was transferred to Milwaukee, where it scored 26 
victories and 16 defeats. The record: 

V 

Club. W. L. Pet. Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 93 42 .689 Milwaukee 64 72 .471 

St. Louis 85 52 .620 Columbus 61 76 .445 

Baltimore 71 64 .526 Louisville 55 84 .396 

Athletics 73 66 .525 Washington 44 90 .328 

The champion Boston team was composed of Haddock, 
Buffington, Daily, Griffith, O'Brien, pitchers; Murphy, Farrell, 
M. Kelly, catchers; Brouthers, Strieker, Joyce, basemen; Rad- 
ford, shortstop; Richardson, T. Brown, Duffy, outfielders; 
Arthur A. Irwin, manager. Ed Sutcliff, of Washington, was the 
titular batting leader with .365 for 51 games, but Daniel Brouth- 
ers, of Boston, was the actual leader with .352 for 130 games. 

THE INGLORIOUS FINISH. 

The disasters of 1891 left a number of the Association clubs 
in bad financial condition. Nevertheless, the organization made 
a strong bluff at continuing the war. A mumber of star National 
League players were signed at high salaries and ample backing 
and ground secured for a club in Chicago, under Fred Pfeffer's 
management. Tired of the war and desirous of ending all 
opposition for the future the National League decided to wipe 
out the American Association and constitute itself a 12-club 
league. Secret negotiations running over six weeks, and so 
quietly conducted that not an inkling escaped, resulted in an 
agreement whereby four Association clubs were to be purchased 
outright and the other four admitted to the National League for 
a term of 10 years. This deal was consummated at a special 
.C^ meeting held in December, f^Oi, in Indianapolis. The Chicago, 
Boston, Milwaukee, Columbus and Washington Clubs were pur- 
chased outright at a total cost of $135,000. The Washington 
franchise was vested in George Wagner, of Philadelphia, and 
that club, together with Baltimore, St. Louis and Louisville, 
were admitted to the National League. So the ill-fated American 
Association passed into history. 




Albert G. Spalding 

Mainstay of the National League in Last Century and 
Greatest Missionary of the Game 



THE BASE BALL TOURS 

5Ciie American (flame of pas^e pall Sntrobuteli to jForeign 
iSations; P|> pall tleamsi SCafeen ©nee to #reat Pritain, 
anb ®ttjiee ^rounb ttje ?lliiorlb. ^pnopsJfe of Completeb 
aCripsf anb tfie IS^orlb tCout in ^rogresfs; to Januarp, 1914* 



HI 


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1 


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IHREE times in the history of organized 
ball have American base ball teams been 
sent abroad, through private enterprise 
and devotion, to spread the gospel of 
America's national game among foreign 
nations — with beneficial effects, at least, 
upon the prestige of the game here, 
but with no great or lasting results in the 
matter of sowing fruitful seed on foreign ground. It was a 
remarkable fact or coincidence that each trip should have been 
taken at the culmination of three epochal periods in the develop- 
ment of the sport. The first of these tours was in 1874, when 
the Athletics and Boston teams added a brilliant chapter to the 
very brief career of the first Professional Association. The sec- 
ond tour came at the height of the expansion of the '80s — was 
its culmination in fact, as within a year thereafter the rebellion 
of the National League Players' Brotherhood set the game back 
ten years. This was the first tour of the world by the Chicago 
and Ail-American teams, in the Winter of 1888-89, under the 
auspices of Mr. A. G. Spalding. The third great event, which 
is the second tour of the world, is in progress as we write, and 
caps the greatest decade of material and artistic success in the 
history of the game. This is the globe-circling tour of the Chi- 
cago American League and the New York National League 
teams, under the auspices of President Charles A. Comiskey, of 
Chicago, and Manager John J. McGraw, of New York. Here- 
with is given a concise, yet complete, record of the first two 
tours and a resume of the third tour up to the time this volume 
goes to press : 

THE VISIT TO EUROPE IN 1 874. 

The career of the Professional Association was marked by 
one great event which gave Base Ball an international import- 



io8 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

ance, viz. : the trip of the Boston and Athletic teams to England 
in 1874. This was a tremendous achievement, which stood 
unique and unrivaled until the Fall of 1888, when an even more 
gigantic undertaking was accomplished by A. G. Spalding, of 
Chicago, who successfully carried and exhibited two complete 
professional base ball teams entirely around the world. It is a 
singular coincidence, which probably has never before been com- 
mented upon, that the trip to England should have preceded the 
collapse of the Professional Association, and that 16 years later 
the tour "around the world" should have preceded the gigantic 
revolt of the Brotherhood players, which so nearly ruined the 
National League and largely revolutionized the base ball busi- 
ness. Both events are of such importance and had such great 
bearing on base ball as to make them especially interesting and 
worthy of a brief review in these pages. The first memorable trip 
was broached early in the season of 1874, and A. G. Spalding 
and Mr. Briggs, of Boston, went to England early in February 
to make arrangements for the tour. The two were well received 
in London and their project was indorsed. Mr. C. W. Alcock, a 
leading English cricketer, was engaged as business manager. He 
perfected the details while Spalding returned to America for his 
work with the Boston team. The two teams, with a number of 
friends, sailed from Philadelphia on the "Ohio," July 16. The 
Athletic party was in charge of director David F. Houston, now 
deceased, while President Charles H. Porter, of Boston, had the 
Boston contingent under his wing. The Athletic team was com- 
posed of McBride, Clapp, Anson, McGeary, Sutton, Battin, Ged- 
ney, McMullin, Murnane, Fisler and Sensenderfer. The Boston 
players were Harry and George Wright, Spalding, Barnes, Sha- 
fer, McVey, Leonard, O'Rourke, Hall, Beals and Kent, a Har- 
vard player, who took White's place. Sam Wright also accom- 
panied the party to play in the cricket games. Two newspaper 
men — Al Wright, of the Philadelphia "Mercury," and H. J. 
Kempton, of the Boston "Herald," also made the entire trip. 
The record of the base ball games played during the trip was as 
follows : 



The Base Ball Tours 109 

Date. Where Played. Result. 

July 30 — Liverpool, England Athletics, 14 ; Boston 11. 

July 31 — Liverpool, England Boston, 23 ; Athletics, 18. 

August 1 — Manchester, England Athletics, 13 ; Boston, 12. 

August 3 — Lord's Ground, London Boston, 24 ; Athletics, 7. 

August 6 — Prince's Ground, London Boston, 14 ; Athletics, 11. 

August 8 — Richmond, London Athletics, 11 ; Boston, 3. 

August 10 — Crystal Palace Ground, London Boston, 17; Athletics, 8. 

August 11 — Crystal Palace Ground, London Athletics, 19 ; Boston, 8. 

August 13 — Kensington Oval, London Boston, 16 ; Athletics, 6. 

August 15— Sheffield, England Boston, 19 ; Athletics, 8. 

August 16— Sheffield, England Boston, 18 ; Athletics, 17. 

August 20 — Manchester, England Athletics, 7 ; Boston, 2. 

August 24 — Dublin, Ireland Boston, 12 ; Athletics, 7. 

August 25 — Dublin, Ireland Athletics, 15 ; Boston 4. 

Totals : Athletics victories, 6 ; Boston victories, 8. 

Total runs: Athletics, 161; Boston, 183. 

The Americans also played seven games of Cricket in which 
they were successful, defeating with ease some of the crack 
English teams. They, however, played i8 men against I2 Brit- 
ish cricketers. The scores follow: 

American vs. American. Opponent. 

Date. 1st. 2nd. Ttl. 1st. 2nd. Ttl. 

August 3— 4-12 Marylebone, on Lord's Ground, 107 ... 107 105 ... 105 

August 6— 7-11 Prince's C. C, at Prince's Grd., 110 ... 110 21 39 60 

August 8— 8-13 Richmond C. C, at Richmond,* 45 . . . 45 108 . . . 108 

August 13—14-11 Surrey C. C, at Ovalf 100 111 211 27 2 29 

August 15—17-12 Sheffield, at Sheffield 130 ... 130 43 45 88 

August 20—24-11 Manchester, at Manchester ... 121 100 221 42 53 95 
August24— 25-11 All-Ireland, at Dublin 71 94 165 47 32 79 

684 305 989 303 171 564 
♦Unfinished innings ; only six wickets down, 
t Second innings unfinished ; only four wickets down. 

Financially the trip was a failure, so far as England was 

concerned; but the clubs managed to pay expenses from the 

receipts of exhibition games in this country. The receipts were: 

July 13, Farewell game in Boston $1,253.24 

July 15, Farewell game in Philadelphia 2,648.82 

September 10, Reception game in Philadelphia 1,321.50 

September 12, Reception game in Boston 1,612.00 

Four games in United States $6,835.66 

Games in Europe 1,679.70 

$8,515.36 
Aside from the financial failure, the trip was a most suc- 
cessful one and enjoyable to all concerned, no accident or inci- 
dent occurring to mar the pleasure of the tourists. They left 
Queenstown for home August 27, in the "Abbottsford," and 
after a stormy voyage, arrived in Philadelphia, September 9, 
1874. 

THE SPALDING WORLD's TOUR OF 1888-89. 

The second base ball tour was the trip around the world, 
in 1888-1889, of two base ball teams under the auspices of A. G. 



no Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Spalding, of Chicago, and Leigh S. Lynch, a well-known theatri- 
cal manager. It was at first contemplated to take the teams to 
Australia only, but after the arrival in the Antipodes the plan 
was changed to embrace a trip clear around the world. The 
party included the Chicago team and a picked team of profes- 
sionals called the All- Americas, and were under the personal 
direction of Mr. A. G. Spalding, who projected the tour and 
assumed the financial responsibility therefor. A. C. Anson cap- 
tained the Chicago team, which was made up of Baldwin and 
Tener, pitchers; Daly, catcher; Anson, Pfeffer and Burns, on 
the bases ; Williamson, shortstop ; and Sullivan, Ryan and Pettit 
in the outfield. Pitcher Van Haltren accompanied the Chicago 
team to San Francisco, where he remained. The All-America 
team, captained by John M. Ward, had Healy and Crane, 
pitchers; Earle, catcher; Carroll, Manning and Wood, on the 
bases; Ward, shortstop; and Fogarty, Hanlon and T. Brown 
in the outfield. The tourists also included the veteran base ball 
player and cricketer, George Wright, who was selected to coach 
and captain the two teams in the proposed cricket matches in 
Australia. Harry C. Palmer, of Chicago, also made the entire 
trip as special correspondent of the Sporting Life (whose 
stories of the tour as published in Sporting Life^ are here 
epitomized), and several other correspondents also went with 
the party, which left Chicago in a special train October 20, 1888, 
and consumed exactly six months in completing the circumfer- 
ence of the globe. Mr. A. G. Spalding was the leader of the 
party; Leigh S. Lynch, business manager; H. H. Thompson, 
assistant ; John K.. Tener, treasurer and cashier. The two teams 
played exhibition games en route to San Francisco. A record 
of these games is appended : 

Date. Clubs. Cities. Pitchers. Score. 

Oct. 20 — Chicago vs. America. .Chicago Spalding, Hutchinson. 11-6 

Oct. 21 — Chicago vs. America. .St. Paul Baldwin, Healy 8-5 

Oct. 22 — Chicago vs. America .. Minneapolis ...Baldwin, Healy 1-0 

Oct. 22 — America vs. Chicago. .Minneapolis .. .Van Haltren, Tener... 6-3 

Oct. 23 — Chicago vs. America. .Cedar Rapids ..Tener, Hutchinson... 6-5 

Oct. 24 — ^America vs. Chicago. .Des Moines ....Hutchinson, Baldwin. 3-2 

Oct. 25 — America vs. Chicago . .Omaha Healy, Ryan 12-2 

Oct. 26 — Chicago vs. America. .Hastings Baldwin, Van Haltren, 8-4 

Oct. 27 — Chicago vs. America . .Denver Tener, Healy 16-2 

Oct. 28 — America vs. Chicago . .Denver Crane, Baldwin 9-8 

Oct. 29 — Chicago vs. America. .Colorado Sp'gs. Ryan, Healy 3-9 

Oct. 31 — ^America vs. Chicago. .Salt Lake City .Crane, Tener 19-3 

Nov. 1 — America vs. Chicago. .Salt Lake City .Healy, Baldwin 10-3 



The Base Ball Tours hi 

Date. Clubs. Cities. Pitchers. Score. 

Nov. 4 — ^America vs. Chicago. .San Francisco .Healy, Baldwin 4-4 

Nov. 11 — America vs. Chicago.. San Francisco .Van Haltren, Tener .. 9-6 

Nov. 14 — Chicago vs. America . .Los Angeles . .Baldwin, Healy 5-0 

Nov. 15 — ^America vs. Chicago . .Los Angeles . . Crane, Tener 7-4 

The record of the games played by the two teams with out- 
side clubs, en route to San Francisco and in California is as 
follows : 

Date. Clubs. Cities. Pitchers. Score. 



Oct. 21— St. Paul vs. Chicago. 
Nov. 6 — Haverly vs. America 
Nov. 8 — Chicago vs. Stockton 
Nov. 8 — Pioneer vs. America . 
Nov. 9 — America vs. Stockton 
Nov. 10 — Chicago vs. Haverly . 



. St. Paul Duryea, Tener . . 8-5 

. San Francisco . . . Anderson, Crane, 12-5 

. Stockton Tener, Harper . . 2-2 

. San Francisco . . . Purcell, Healy . . 9-4 

.Stockton Crane, Baker... 16-1 

. San Francisco . . . Baldwin, Inal . . . 6-1 



The party sailed from San Francisco on the steamship "Ala- 
meda," November i8, i888. After stopping .at Honolulu, where 
they were entertained by the late King Kalakaua, of the Sand- 
wich Islands, the tourists proceeded on their journey and made 
their next stopping place at Auckland, New Zealand, where a 
game was played. The long voyage terminated December 14, 
when the party arrived at Sydney, New South Wales. Their 
original schedule called for a series both of base ball and cricket 
games throughout the length and breadth of Australia; but on 
account of a change in the program the principal cities only were 
visited, and, with perhaps one exception, base ball games alone 
were there played. Wherever they appeared in Australia, they 
were accorded a generous welcome and royally treated, not so 
much as ball players, but as representatives of the great West- 
ern Republic. Banquets and receptions were of daily occurrence, 
and the exhibitions were well attended, the Australians evincing 
the liveliest interest in America's national game. The correct 
record of the victories and defeats of the two teams after leaving 
San Francisco is as follows : 

1888. Place. Pitchers. Winners. Score. 

December 10 — ^Auckland Baldwin, Crane Chicago 22-13 

December 15 — Sydney Healy, Tener ...... .America 5-4 

December 17 — Sydney Healy, Baldwin America 7- 5 

December 19 — Sydney Healy, Tener America .... 6-3 

December 22 — Melbourne Tener, Crane Chicago .... 5-3 

December 24 — Melbourne Baldwin, Crane Chicago 5-3 

December 24 — Melbourne Healy, Tener America 15-13 

December 26 — Adelaide Healy, Tener America 19-14 

December 26 — Ballarat Baldwin, Healy Chicago 12-9 

December 27 — Adelaide Ryan, Simpson Chicago 11-4 

December 28 — Adelaide. Healy, Baldwin America 11- 7 



112 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

1889. Place. Pitchers. Winners. Score. 

January 1 — Melbourne Tener, Healy Chicago 14- 7 

January 1 — Melbourne Baldwin, Crane Chicago .... 9-4 

January 3 — Melbourne Baldwin, Crane Chicago 5-0 

Victories for America, 6 ; victories for Chicago, 8. 

The party sailed from Melbourne January 7, 1889, and after 
playing at Colombo, Ceylon, and before the Pyramids, in Egypt, 
concluded their sea voyage February 15, when they arrived at 
Brindisi, Italy. The two teams then played a series of games 
at Naples, Rome, Florence, Paris, London, Bristol, Manchester, 
Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin. Every- 
where the party were well received and dined and wined. In 
England they were made the recipients of special courtesies at 
the hands of the best people, and the Prince of Wales honored 
them by attending one of the games. The records of the vic- 
tories and defeats scored after the two teams left Australia is 
as follows: 

1889. Place. Pitchers. Winners. Score. 

February 9 — Cairo, Egypt, Pyramids . . . Healy, Tener . . . America 10-6 

February 19 — Naples, Italy Healy, Baldwin . America 8-2 

February 23 — Rome, Italy Tener, Crane . . . Chicago 3-2 

February 25 — Florence, Italy Healy, Baldwin . America 7-4 

March 8 — Paris, France Crane, Tener . . . America 7-6 

March 12 — London, England Baldwin, Healy . Chicago 7-4 

March 13 — London, England Crane, Tener . . . America 7-6 

March 14 — London, England Healy, Baldwin. America 5-3 

March 15 — Bristol, England Ryan, Crane . . . Chicago .... 10-3 

March 16 — Lay ton, England Baldwin, Crane . Chicago 12-6 

March 19 — Sheffield, England Tener, Crane ... America 10-0 

March 20 — Bradford, England Baldwin, Healy . Chicago 6-3 

March 21 — Glasgow, Scotland Crane, Baldwin . America .... 8-4 

March 22 — Manchester, England Healy, Tener . . America 7-6 

March 25 — Belfast, Ireland Healy, Tener . . . America 9-8 

March 26 — Dublin, Ireland Baldwin, Crane 4-3 

Total American victories, 11 ; Chicago victories, 5. 

The drawn games were as follows : 

1889. Place. Pitchers. Score. 

January 26 — Colombo, Ceylon Crane, Baldwin 3-3 

March 18 — Birmingham, England Healy, Baldwin 4-4 

March 23 — Liverpool, England Baldwin, Crane 4-4 

The party finally sailed for home on the steamship "Adri- 
atic" from Queenstown, March 28, and arrived in New York 
April 6. They were tendered a banquet at Delmonico's by the 
citizens of New York, which was an imposing affair. Mr. A. G. 
Mills was chairman, and Chauncey Depew, Mark Twain, Daniel 
Dougherty, Mayor Chapin, of Brooklyn; Mayor Cleveland, of 
Jersey City; and other distinguished gentlemen, including Theo- 
dore Roosevelt, attended and made speeches. 



The Base Ball Tours 113 

The party then proceeded to Philadelphia, where they were 
received by the officials of the Philadelphia Club, welcomed by 
Mayor Fitler, and on the evening of April 10 banqueted at the 
Hotel Bellevue by the Sporting Life. This was declared to be 
the finest banquet of the many that had been tendered the tour- 
ists. The affair was sumptuous in all its details, but the speeches 
were the feature of the evening. It was essentially a base ball 
banquet ; the national game was the one topic of the evening, with 
everybody en rapport. Editor F. C. Richter presided, President 
Thomas S. Dando delivered the welcoming address, and eloquent, 
as well as appropriate, speeches were made by President Smith, of 
Select Council ; Colonel McClure, of the "Times ;" Colonel John I. 
Rogers, A. G. Spalding, C. H. Byrne, A. C. Anson, John M. 
Ward, A. J. Reach, Henry Chadwick, M. Richards Muckle and 
others. Over 300 guests were present. Games were played by 
the Chicago team at Buffalo, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, 
Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Indianapolis, en route home. Chicago 
was reached April 20. In the afternoon a game was played, and 
in the evening the tour wound up with a banquet at the Palmer 
House, tendered by the citizens of Chicago. Thus ended a tour 
the like of which had never before been undertaken. The finan- 
cial outcome of the great trip was, it was believed, entirely satis- 
factory to the projectors, Messrs. Spalding and Lynch. A full 
account of all the details of the trip, together with all the scores 
of the games played, appeared in the Sporting Life weekly, 
from the beginning to the end of the trip. 

THE COMISKEY-m'gRAW WORLD TOUR OF I913-I4. 

During the season of 191 3 President Comiskey, of the Chi- 
cago American Club, determined to carry into execution the 
plans of another World Tour, which he had had in mind for 
many years. When he was the leading manager-captain of the 
old American Association, in the '80s, he had nourished a secret 
ambition to make a tour of the world at some time in the future. 
When the Spalding Tour of the World was broached circum- 
stances compelled him to decline participation therein, but he 
determined that if time and fortune favored he would head a 
similar venture. Since the expansion of the American League 
Mr. Comiskey has succeeded in acquiring great wealth, and so, 



114 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

during the 191 3 season, he saw his way clear to putting his long- 
cherished plans into execution. He interested Manager 
McGraw, of New York, in the venture, with a view to securing 
the New York National team as a counter-attraction and rival 
to the Chicago American team, which Comiskey decided to take 
around the world. After Comiskey and McGraw had entered 
into an agreement as to the nature, scope and time of the tour 
the entire Summer was consumed in arranging the details, 
engaging the players, and routing the tour, and long before the 
start of the tour over $45,000 had been spent in the preparatory 
work and in advance payments on transportation. At the eleventh 
hour the projectors were embarrassed by the refusal of a num- 
ber of Chicago and New York players to carry out their agree- 
ments to make the tour, and several weeks were spent securing 
other players from various major league teams in place of the 
recreants. After herculean labor the start was made from 
Chicago October 19, after a preliminary game had been played at 
Cincinnati on the previous day. After the farewell game in 
Chicago the two teams played 31 exhibition games, working their 
way through Illinois, Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Cali- 
fornia and Oregon, going from Seattle by boat to Victoria, 
B. C, whence they sailed for Japan on the "Empress of Japan," 
on November 19, 191 3. The trip was a great artistic and finan- 
cial success. Following is the record of the American part of 
the tour : 

1913. Where Played. Results. 

October 18— Cincinnati Giants, 11 ; White Sox, 2. 

October 19— Chicago Giants, 3 ; White Sox, 1. 

October 20— Springfield Giants, 6 ; White Sox, 4. 

October 21— Peoria White Sox, 6 ; Giants, 4. 

October 22— Ottumwa White Sox, 7 ; Giants, 3. 

October 23— Sioux City Giants, 6 ; White Sox, 3. 

October 24 — Blue Rapids White Sox, 8 ; Giants, 5. 

October 25— St. Joseph White Sox, 4 ; Giants, 3. 

October 26— Kansas City Giants, 6 ; White Sox, 2. 

October 27— Joplin Giants, 13; White Sox, 12. 

October 28— Tulsa White Sox, 6 ; Giants, 0. 

October 29— Fort Smith White Sox, 7 ; Giants, 1. 

October 30 — Bonham Giants, 4 ; White Sox, 1. 

October 31— Dallas White Sox, 9 ; Giants, 3. 

November 1 — Beaumont Giants, 3 ; White Sox, 2. 

November 2 — Houston White Sox, 9 ; Giants, 4. 

November 3 — Marlin Giants, 11 ; White Sox, 1. 

November 4 — Abilene Rain. 

November 5 — El Paso White Sox, 10 ; Giants, 7. 

November 6 — Douglass Giants, 14 ; White Sox, 5. 

November 7 — Bisbee Giants, 9 ; White Sox, 1. 

November 8 — Los Angeles White Sox, 5 ; Giants, 3. 




Charles A. Comiskey 

The Chicago Magnate Who Is One of the Greatest 
Figures in Base Ball 



The Base Ball Tours 115 

19r3. Where Played. Results. 

November 9 — Los Angeles Giants, 7 ; White Sox, 7. 

November 10 — San Diego Giants 4 ; White Sox, 3. 

November 11 — Oxnard Giants, 3 ; White Sox, 2. 

November 12 — Sacramento Rain. 

November 13 — Oakland White Sox, 5 ; Giants, 2. 

November 14 — San Francisco White Sox, 3 ; Giants, 2. 

November 15 — San Francisco Giants, 6 ; White Sox, 3. 

November 16— Oakland White Sox, 12 ; Giants, 8. 

November 16 — San Francisco White Sox, 4 ; Giants, 2. 

November 17 — Medford Giants, 3 ; White Sox, 0. 

November 18— Portland White Sox, 2 ; Giants, 0. 

November 19 — Seattle Rain. 

Total games won Giants, 15 ; White Sox, 15. 

The above tour netted a total of $97,240 for 31 games 
played, or an average of more than $3000 per game. Had it not 
rained on the final day, when a double-header was to have been 
played at Tacoma and Seattle, the $100,000 mark would have 
been passed. At all points the tourists were showered with 
attentions, such as banquets, receptions and theatre parties. 
Before the tourists left Seattle for Victoria, several players who 
had played in nearly all of the games up to that time, severed 
their connection with the party. These were pitcher Tesreau, 
pitcher Mathewson and catcher Myers, of the New Yorks; and 
infielder Rath, catcher Schalk, first baseman Chase and pitchers 
Russell and White, of the Chicago team. Those who embarked 
on the "Empress of Japan" were as follows : 

White Sox — Pitchers, Jim Scott, Joe Benz, John Faber, Waiter 
Leverenz; catchers, Andy Slight, Jack Bliss; first base, Tom Daly; 
second base, Herman Schaefer; shortstop, Buck Weaver; third base, 
Dick Egan; outfield, James Callahan, Sam Crawford and Steve Evans. 

Giants — Pitchers, Bunny Hearne, George Wiltse; catchers. Ivy 
Wingo; first base, Fred Merkle; second base, Larry Doyle; third base, 
John Lobert; shortstop, Mike Doolan; outfield, Lee Magee, Jim Thorpe 
and Mike Donlin. 

Other Tourists — Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Comiskey, Mr. and Mrs. J. 
L. Comiskey, Mrs. James J. Callahan, Margaret Callahan, Daniel Cal- 
lahan, Mrs. John McGraw, Mrs. Lawrence Doyle, Mrs. George Wiltse, 
Mrs. John Lobert, Mrs. James Thorpe, Mr. and Mrs. William Klem, 
Mr. and Mrs. J. Mullen, Mr. and Mrs. James McAleer, Mr. and Mrs. 
William Buhl, Dr. Frank Finley, the Rev. John McNamara, A. T. Kin- 
ney, H. Struckman, B. Birchell, Sidney Mercer, N. L. O'Neil, Ted 
Sullivan, Mrs. Hugh E. Keough, Mrs. N. R. McLean, Mrs. Daniel 
Hardon, Mrs. Samuel Crawford, N. E. McBride, James Hill, Mrs. 
Frank Isbell and infant daughter; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Farrell; Gus 
Axelson, William Ryan, Frank Farrell and A. P. Anderson. 

A. Anderson was in charge of the tour after leaving America. 
In the White Sox party all except James McAleer and his wife 



ii6 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

were from Chicago. Coming on the boat the party found a 125- 
pound cake, presented by the Northern Pacific Railroad. It was 
decorated on top with pictures of Comiskey Park and the Polo 
Grounds. It was cut Thanksgiving Day. The tourists reached 
Yokohama, Japan, on December 6, four days late, owing to 
severe storms which threw the ship out of its course. Upon 
arrival in Japan the tourists proceeded to travel and play on the 
following schedule: 

December 3, Yokohama; December 4, Kobe; December 6, Naga- 
saki; December 8, Shanghai; December 11 and 12, Hongkong; Decem- 
ber 14 and 15, Manila; January 1, Brisbane; January 4, 5, 6, Sydney; 
January 7 and 8, Melbourne; January 9 and 10, Adelaide; January 13 
and 14, Freemantle; January 23, Colombo; February 2 and 3, Cairo; 
February 24, Alexandria; February 7, Naples; February 8 and 9, 
Rome; February 10, Florence; February 11, Milan; February 12, Monte 
Carlo; February 13, Nice; February 14, Marseilles; February 15, 16, 
17, 18 and 19, Paris; February 20, 21, 22 and 23, London. The teams 
will visit Edinburgh on February 24 and 25; Glasgow, February 26; 
Dublin, February 27; Queenstown, February 28 and March 1, being 
due to arrive in New York on March 6. 

The tourists arrived in Yokohama, Japan, on December 6, 
four days late, as stated, and proceeded at once by rail to Tokio, 
where they were given an enthusiastic reception alike by the 
natives and resident Americans. On December 6 the White Sox 
defeated the Giants, 9-4. On the following day a combination 
team of the White Sox and Giants defeated Keio University, the 
best team in Japan, 16-3, and then the White Sox defeated the 
Giants, 12-9. The tourists then proceeded to Nagasaki, Shanghai 
and Hongkong. At Hongkong the Giants beat the White Sox, 
7-4. The tourists next sailed for the Philippines, reaching Manila 
December 17, where the tourists were entertained by a local citi- 
zens' committee and the Army and Navy Club. Games were 
played December 16 and 17, the White Sox defeating the Giants, 
2-1 and 7-4. On the night of December 17 the tourists sailed for 
Australia, reaching Brisbane on January 2, 1914. In the fore- 
noon of that day the Giants defeated the White Sox, 2-1, and in 
the evening they departed for Sydney, N. S. W., arriving there 
on January 3. Before 10,000 enthusiastic spectators two games 
were played on that day. In the first game the White Sox 
defeated an Australian team, lo-i, and then the White Sox 
defeated the Giants, 5-4. On January 5 two more games were 



The Base Ball Tours 117 

played at Sydney, the Giants defeating an Australian team, 14-0, 
and the White Sox defeating the Giants, 5-4, after which the 
tourists departed for Melbourne evening of January 5. An 
enthusiastic reception was accorded the tourists upon their arrival 
at Melbourne on January 6, and a great crowd that afternoon 
witnessed the triumph of the Giants over the White Sox, ^-2.. 
On January 7 the tourists ended their sojourn at Melbourne with 
two games, the Giants defeating an Australian team, 18-0, and 
then defeating the White Sox, 12-8. The tourists left Melbourne 
on January 8 for Adelaide and reached that port on January 9, 
but remained only about three hours at Adelaide, canceling the 
game there, and proceeding direct to Fremantle. The game 
scheduled for that place was also canceled, as the tourists arrived 
late. On January 13 the tourists left Perth, Australia, on the 
steamship "Orontes" for Colombo, Ceylon, where they were 
scheduled for a game on January 23. Then they go to Egypt to 
play a game under the Pyramids, after which they will start 
on the homeward journey, via Europe, by way of Italy, Germany, 
France and England. 




Great Figures in the Four Wars That Have Made 
Base Ball History 

1 — Henry Boyle, leading pitcher of the Union Association in 1884. 
2 — Fred Dunlap, St. Louis manager in the Union Association of 1884. 
3 — John M. Ward, leader of the players in the revolt of 1890. 4 — Ed 
Hanlon, associate leader of the players in the revolt of 1890. 5 — George 
W. Wagner, Philadelphia backer in the players' revolt of 1890. 6 — J. 
Earle Wagner, leader of the American Association in the war of 1891. 
7 — Ban B. Johnson, leader of the American League in the war of 1901- 
1902. 8 — Charles Somers, provider of the sinews of war to the American 
League in 1901-1902. 





1^ 




■taei*- 



BIG WARS OF BASE BALL 

OTifjicfi 3nterrupteb tije ^rosresfjs at fte Jgational (game* 
®f)e aanion iteague in X884, anb tfie ^la|>erss* Heague in 
1890 tlore Wbim^ Wip anb Causfeb jHore or %t^^ €xten= 
jBJitie ^Reorganisation. American Eeague €ntorceb 3^eformjsJ. 



HE progress of organized Base Ball has 
been halted at various times by base ball 
wars — five of them to be exact. In each 
case, however, the result was beneficial 
by reason of the lessons taught and the 
experience gained. These five wars were 
the National League-American Associa- 
tion war in 1882; the Union Association 
war in 1884 ; the National League-Players' League war in 1890 ; 
the National League- American Association war of 1891 ; and 
the National League-American League war of 1901-1902. Three 
of these wars are dealt with in our story of the old American 
Association and of the present American League; they are part 
of the record of their careers and, therefore, need not be elabo- 
rated upon here. Of the other two we herewith give a brief 
resume : 

THE UNION ASSOCIATION WAR. 

When the National League, American Association and 
Northwestern League formed the Tripartite Agreement in the 
Fall of 1883 a number of ambitious base ball promoters con- 
ceived the idea of organizing a new major league at the expense 
of the two existing leagues, using opposition to the newly-estab- 
lished reserve rule as a bait for the players. The chief promoter 
was a wealthy young St. Louisan named Henry V. Lucas. At 
a meeting held in Pittsburgh, September 12, 1883, the Union 
Association was organized with a circuit consisting of St. Louis, 
Chicago, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Bos- 
ton and Altoona. H. B. Bennett, of Washington, was elected 
president and Warren W. White, also of Washington, secretary. 
At a subsequent meeting, however, H. V. Lucas, of St. Louis, 
was chosen as president; Thomas W. Pratt, of Philadelphia, as 
vice-president; and W. W. White, of Washington, secretary. 



120 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



Mr. Lucas dominated the organization and spent a vast deal 
of time, money and energy upon it. The National League and 
American Association were raided for players and about 50 
became tangled up in the new movement, but before the season 
opened most of these players repented and refused to live up 
to their contracts. Lucas, being the admittedly wealthy man of 
the combination, managed to hold the bulk of his players and 
this made his team so strong that he had a complete walkover 
in the race. The only noted players who joined the Union Asso- 
ciation were Fred Dunlap, Sam Crane, George W. Bradley, 
George Schaefer, Fred Shaw, "One-Armed" Daly, Henry Boyle, 
C. Sweeney and Atkinson. The sensation of the season was the 
desertion of McCormick, Briody and Glasscock, of Cleveland, in 
mid-season, to the St. Louis Club. The public did not take 
kindly to the personnel or methods of the Union Association and 
the season was a complete failure. Within six weeks Altoona 
disbanded and was succeeded by Kansas City. In August the 
Keystones, of Philadelphia, disbanded, the Wilmington, Eastern 
League, team taking its place. In September Wilmington quit 
and was succeeded by Milwaukee. The Chicago team was trans- 
ferred to Pittsburgh in August and was disbanded there in Sep- 
tember, St. Paul filling the vacancy. Only five clubs finished the 
season and St. Louis won the championship in hollow style. 
The complete season record : 



Club. 



W. L. Pet. 
16 .850 



St. Louis 91 

Cincinnati 68 35 .660 

Baltimore 56 48 .536 

Boston 58 51 .532 

Pittsburgh 40 45 .471 

Nationals 47 66 .416 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Keystone 21 46 .313 

Kansas City 14 63 .182 

Milwaukee 8 3 .727 

Altoona 6 19 .240 

Wilmington 2 15 .118 

St. Paul 2 6 .250 



The champion St. Louis team was composed of Sweeney, 
Boyle, Hartnett and Werden, pitchers; Dolan, Brennan and 
Baker, catchers; Joe Quinn, Dunlap and J. Gleason, basemen; 
Whitehead, shortstop; D. Rowe, Schaefer and a battery player, 
outfielders; Fred Dunlap, manager. An effort was made during 
the succeeding Winter to reorganize the Union Association, but 
the National League gave that movement its death-blow by 
admitting Lucas and his St. Louis Club to the National League. 



Big Wars of Base Ball 121 



THE PLAyERS LEAGUE WAR. 



Five years after the affair of the Union Association the 
Players' League was organized to war upon the National League. 
This organization grew out of a series of controversies between 
the National League and the Brotherhood over questions of con- 
tract, player-classification and salary-reduction. The movement 
for the new league was secretly conducted by the officers of the 
Brotherhood, headed by John M. Ward, during the season of 
1889. Capitalists for an eight-club league and sites for new ball 
parks in each city conflicting with the National League were 
secured, and at a meeting held on December 16, 1889, i^ New 
York, the Players' League was permanently organized with a 
ten-year co-partnership between the eight clubs represented. 
All the authority was vested in a Central Board of Directors in 
which the players had equal representation with the capitalists. 
The reserve rule was abolished and absolute one-year contracts 
with privilege of renewal for two years were substituted. The 
players were also to share in the profits of the clubs equally with 
the capitaHsts. The officers selected were: President, Colonel 
E. A. McAlpin, of New York; vice-president, John Addison, of 
Chicago; secretary-treasurer, Frank H. Brunnell, of Chicago. 
The circuit was composed of Boston, Brooklyn, New York, 
Philadelphia, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Cleveland. After 
successfully defending four injunction suits brought by the 
National League clubs, the Players' League opened in 1890 
with every promise of popular support, but in a short time con- 
tentions between the players and the capitalists arose and grew 
to such proportions as to vitally affect discipline. Seven of the 
all-star teams fell far below form and expectation. The con- 
flicting schedule with the National League also divided the 
patronage and in time disgusted the public, and to make matters 
worse the press was divided between the contending factions, 
which led to an excessive amount of public recrimination. As a 
result the attendance at both National League and Players' 
League games dwindled steadily as the season progressed and 
before mid-season was reached it became evident that both 
leagues would lose heavily financially, and therefore the battle 
had become one of a "survival of the fittest." And here was 



122 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

where the weakness of the Players' League began to tell heavily, 

as the inexperienced capitalists lost confidence in the project and 

began to weaken badly toward the close of the season, especially 

when in September a long spell of continuous wet weather put 

the finishing touches to the misfortunes of this league. The 

League, however, managed to worry through the season and 

Boston won the championship after a most disappointing race, 

considering the supposedly all-star composition of the various 

teams. The record: 

Club. W. L. Pet. Club. W. L. Pet. 

Boston 81 48 .628 Philadelphia 68 63 .519 

Brooklyn 76 56 .576 Pittsburgh 60 68 .469 

New York 74 57 .565 Cleveland 55 75 .423 

Chieago 75 62 .547 Buffalo 36 96 .273 

The champion Boston team was manned as follows: Rad- 
bourn, Gumbert, Daley, Kilroy, Madden, pitchers; Kelly, Mur- 
phy, Swett, catchers; Brouthers, Quinn, Nash, basemen; Irwin, 
shortstop ; H. Richardson, T. Brown, Stovey, outfielders ; Arthur 
Irwin, manager. Browning, of Cleveland, led the League bats- 
men with .391. During the Winter strenuous efforts were made 
by the players to reorganize the League for the following sea- 
son. In September the Players' League as a body had purchased 
the Cincinnati National League Club for $40,000 and placed it 
in the hands of four trustees. A series of exhibition games in 
Cincinnati in October proved a complete frost and still further 
depressed the Players' League capitalists, particularly those in the 
East. A series of conferences between the Players' League 
capitalists and the National League magnates during the Winter 
resulted in giving the Players' League its death-blow. The New 
York and Brooklyn Clubs entered into secret negotiations to sell 
out to the National League and this resulted in a "rush for 
cover" by all the other Players' League clubs. The final result 
was that the New York, Brooklyn, Pittsburgh and Chicago 
clubs were consolidated, Cleveland and Buffalo were purchased 
outright; and Boston and Philadelphia were given franchises in 
the reorganized American Association. And so ended the Play- 
ers' League. 

TWO MORE BASE BALL WARS. 

In addition to the above-described wars the National game 
witnessed two other struggles of grave import. In 1891 the 



Big Wars of Base Ball 123 

American Association — which had just been reorganized after 
the destructive Players' League war of 1890 — seceded from the 
National Agreement, owing to a quarrel over two players, and 
after a hard one-year battle, was defeated by the National 
League and absorbed by the latter body. This story is told in 
detail in our chapter on the old American Association. The 
fourth, and last, great war in Base Ball is so modern that its recol- 
lection is still fresh in the public mind. That was the memorable 
battle between the old National League and the young Western 
minor league, the American League, which began in 1901 and 
lasted until the Winter of 1902. This war grew out of the minor 
league's determination to expand Eastward and resulted in the 
triumph of the young league and its secure establishment as a 
great major league upon equal basis with the old National 
League. The story of this war is briefly, but accurately, told in 
our chapter on the American League. 

BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF PEACE. 

Since the settlement of the National League-American 
League War of 1901-02 there has been constant peace and ever- 
increasing prosperity in professional Base Ball. In the major 
leagues the game has reached its apogee. The attendance has 
been increasing from year to year; clubs have been so firmly 
established that most of them now not only own their park sites, 
but have erected upon them virtually indestructible stadiums of 
steel and concrete, excelling in point of spaciousness, comfort, 
convenience, and splendor anything the new or old world has 
ever seen, not even excepting the historic Roman structures ; and 
the number of first-class players has increased to unexampled 
degree while the compensation has been the highest accredited 
any body of professional men in the history of the world. This 
great prosperity has been shared by the minor leagues, which 
have not only increased in number from nine in 1901 to forty- 
three in 1 91 3, but which have attained a degree of stability which 
at one time only major leagues could aspire to. An idea of the 
immensity of the minor league operations may be gleaned from 
the following extract from Secretary John H. Farrell's report 
at the annual meeting of the National Association in November, 
191 3, at Columbus, O. : 



124 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Pursuant to requirements I submit herewith the Twelfth Annual 
Report of this oflace, covering a resume of the business coming to this 
office during the current year. Forty-three League organizations, 
embracing 302 cities and towns in the United States and Canada, 
qualified for membership in 1913. Number of telegrams received in 
this office during current year, 2881. Number of telegrams transmitted 
by this office, 2214. Number of players' contracts received, recorded 
and promulgated, 8588. Number of terms accepted, examined and 
promulgated, 1726. Number of players released by purchase, 2209. 
Number of optional agreements approved, 159. Number of optional 
agreements exercised, 155. Number of players reported to this office 
for release, 3185. Number of players reported for suspension, 1083. 
Number of players reported for reinstatement, 427. Number of players 
declared ineligible, 2. Number of drafted players returned under 
waiver rule, 7. Number of official bulletins issued by this office, 32. 
Copies of official bulletins mailed from this office during current year, 
15,125. Total number of disputed cases handled during the current 
year, 803. Number of players drafted by major leagues, 88, of which 
the National League drafted 45, and the American League 43. Num- 
ber of players drafted by National Association clubs, 189. Total amount 
received through this office for drafted players, including money re- 
funded on National Association drafts disallowed: 

National League $ 59,100 

American League 58,450 

National Association 109,700 

Total $227,250 

Amount paid on optional agreements $ 58,800 

Amount paid on drafted players returned under 

waiver rule 7,200 

Amount paid for release by purchase of National 

Association players 188,250 

Grand total received through this office for drafted 
players, optional agreement players and released 

by purchase players 481,500 

In transacting the business of the National Association, together 
with the collecting of evidence in disputed cases, correspondence with 
players, managers, club owners, directors, league secretaries and league 
presidents, 24,000 letters were handled by this office. 

Conditions such as are convincingly demonstrated in the 
above editorial and official statements, served to make the decade 
from 1903 to 1913, inclusive, truly the golden age of Base Ball — a 
time in which the mutuality of interest of employer and employee 
and the relation of sport to press and public were more fully 
recognized by those in control of the sport than ever before. 

THE SOLID BASIS OF SUCCESS 

has been, and is at this writing, the National Agreement, described 



Big Wars of Base Ball 125 

in another chapter in this History and Records of Base Ball. 
This fundamental code of laws provided a form of government 
and of administration for Base Ball which has proven in all ways 
the best and most successful system ever devised for the safe, 
sane, and honest conduct of Base Ball — or, indeed, any other 
sport known to man. Under this beneficent system, the National 
League, the American League, and that great federation of minor 
leagues, the National Association, have worked together hand-in- 
hand for the conduct of the great sport; with competent con- 
sideration for and protection of its exponents of every class and 
every degree of individual ability; and with fullest assurance to 
the American public of the continuous maintenance of the rigid 
integrity and absolute honesty of the cleanest, finest, and most 
enjoyable outdoor sport on earth. In this connection, also, can- 
dor and fairness compel the statement here that much of the 
wonderful success of this great governmental system was, and is, 
in large part due to the character, ability, and industry of those 
who have administered the system. Government by Commission 
was a happy thought; happier still was the selection of such a 
staff of executives as Messrs. August Herrmann, Ban. B. John- 
son, Thomas J. Lynch, the late Harry Pulliam, and last, but not 
least, John K. Tener, now a member of the National Commission 
by virtue of his recent election as President of the National 
League. Their constructive service to the National game cannot 
be over-estimated, and will never be forgotten. 

the inevitable coming to pass. 

It was not to be expected that the wonderful success achieved 
under the National Agreement could be maintained indefinitely 
without exciting undue ambition within the ranks, the envy of 
outsiders, and the rapacity of the players — ^the latter always 
susceptible to temptation by appeal to their cupidity or to the 
egotism developed by excessive adulation of the press and public. 
Moreover, the history of the game demonstrates that every 
decade developed conditions that led to war either through for- 
eign influence or internal causes. It was hoped that under the 
dual-major-league system and the three-party National Agree- 
ment all causes of internal dissatisfaction had been allayed and 
all avenues for foreign attack had been closed ; nevertheless indi- 



126 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

cations of trouble were not lacking toward the close of the fourth 
decade of organized ball. In 1907 a scheme within the National 
Association to organize a third major league through a combina- 
tion of elements in the Eastern League and American Associa- 
tion — the two largest leagues in the National Association fold 
— was discovered and rigorously squelched. No further trouble 
within the citadel of organized ball was anticipated, but in 
1 910 the powers of organized ball received a shock through 
the accidental discovery of the secret operations of a Cincinnati 
promoter named D. A. Fletcher in the interest of a proposed 
third major league. 

THE REMARKABLE FLETCHER EPISODE. 

This Mr. Fletcher originally promoted a post-season tour of 
the country by two All-Star teams of American and National 
League players, and had actually signed all of the players for the 
tour at sums of $500 to $1000 each, to be paid in advance of the 
tour. Deeming the innovation dangerous to organized ball the 
National Commission forbade the use of the ball parks of all 
National Agreement clubs by the All-Star teams, thereby killing 
the scheme. Fletcher threatened reprisal with the organization 
of a new major league, and for a time made a serious situation, 
as he claimed to have the signatures of 80 star players of the two 
major leagues to agreements to sign contracts of a new league 
on or before February 11, 191 1, upon payment of $10,000 bonus 
in cash to each player so signing. That as many players signed 
these options as was claimed by Fletcher is a question; but that 
a great many players did actually sign these conditional contracts 
there is no doubt, which was a reflection upon their judgment, 
and a sad commentary upon their individual lack of appreciation 
of good treatment and their loyalty to a system under which the 
game was flourishing as never before, and under which the ball 
player had reached the highest standard of personal income, 
private consideration and public importance. Despite his advan- 
tages. Promoter Fletcher failed to enlist capital for his proposed 
new league, largely for the reason that the press of the country 
frowned upon the scheme; gradually the bulk of the players 
upon whom he had options re-signed with their respective clubs. 



Big Wars of Base Ball 



127 



and before the 191 1 season opened the danger had blown over — 
not, however, without leaving some apprehension for the future. 

INDEPENDENT LEAGUE MOVEMENTS. 

In 19 12 two attempts were made to organize independent 
leagues which were designed to form the basis for ultimate expan- 
sion to major-league status, without the pale of the National 
Agreement. In the West, Mr. James T. Powers, of Chicago, 
attempted to organize a Columbian League, as a purely Western 
League, with Chicago as its center, but after working on the 
scheme for some months he announced postponement for a year. 
At the same time Mr. W. A. Witman, of Reading, Pa., organized 
the United States League with clubs located in Chicago, Cleveland, 
Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, New York, Washington, Reading and Rich- 
mond. This league elected Mr. Witman as president and adopted 
a schedule beginning May i and ending September 28. The sea- 
son started as scheduled, but within 20 days the Cincinnati Club 
transferred all of its home games ; on May 23 the Cleveland Club 
disbanded ; on May 24 the Washington team disbanded ; on May 
30 the Reading team closed its season at home ; on June i Presi- 
dent Witman filed petition of voluntary bankruptcy at Reading, 
Pa., and the same day the Richmond team disbanded. At a meet- 
ing of the remaining clubs, at Pittsburgh, on June 2, Captain 
Marshall Henderson, of Pittsburgh, was elected president with 
a view to continuing the league with new clubs, but on the fol- 
lowing day the Cincinnati team disbanded, and the players filed 
suit for unpaid salaries. On June 5 the season was declared 
ended with this record : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Pittsburgh 19 7 .731 

Richmond , 15 11 .577 

Reading 12 9 .571 

Cincinnati 12 10 .545 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Washington 6 7 .462 

Chicago 10 12 .455 

Cleveland 8 13 .400 

New York 2 15 .118 



THE INDEPENDENT FEDERAL LEAGUE. 

In the 191 3 season Mr. Witman reorganized the independent 
United States League with clubs located in Baltimore, Brooklyn, 
Philadelphia, Reading, New York, Newark, Washington and 
Lynchburg. The race started on May 10, and came to an end 
in three days — this proving the quickest and most ridiculous 



128 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

failure in the long history of Base Ball, a history teeming with 
ill-advised club and league ventures and with failures of large 
and small degree. In the meantime Mr. Powers, of Chicago, had 
succeeded in forming an independent league in the West. The 
league was organized as the Federal League, in Chicago, with 
clubs located in Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, St. 
Louis and Covington, Ky. — the latter being intended to draw 
from Cincinnati. Mr. John T. Powers, of Chicago, was elected 
as president and Mr. James A. Ross, of Indianapolis, as secre- 
tary. A schedule, running from May 6 to September 14, was 
adopted. The teams were composed of discarded veteran major 
league players, many young and inexperienced players, and a 
few minor league reserve-jumpers. Contrary to general expecta- 
tion, the league played out the season, and with but one change 
in circuit, namely, the transfer of the Covington team on June 
20 to Kansas City, Mo., with a record of 21 victories and 21 
defeats. The season record was as follows : 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Indianapolis 75 45 .625 

Cleveland 63 54 .538 

St. Louis 59 59 .500 



Club. W. L. Pet. 

Chieago 57 62 .479 

Kansas City 53 65 .449 

Pittsburgh 49 71 .408 



The champion Indianapolis team was manned as follows: 
William Phillips, pitcher and manager ; catchers, Texter, Massey, 
Ellsworth ; pitchers, Neenan, Bishop, Link, Billiard, Bair, Kaiser- 
ling; first base, Dolan, Meyers; second base, Scott, Vandegrift; 
third base. Murphy, Tiemeyer ; shortstop, Alcock, Robinson ; out- 
fielders, Jones, Gaston, Kaiser, Cates, Keener, Conroy. 



FEDERAL LEAGUE DECLARES WAR. 

During the 191 3 season the independent Federal League had 
made no attempt to secure players of organized ball and had only 
clashed with the latter through invasion of protected territory — 
to which overt act the powers of organized base ball paid no 
attention. Encouraged by the partial success of the season and by 
the passive attitude of the organized ball world, the Federal 
League magnates, at a secret meeting held at Indianapolis on 
August 2, 191 3, decided to remain on independent lines and to 
expand to eight-club basis for 19 14. President Powers, organ- 
izer of the league, was given a vacation until September 20. Mr. 



Big Wars of Base Ball 129 

J. A. Gilmore, of Chicago, was elected temporary president and 
Mr. Lloyd Rickart, of St. Louis, was elected as temporary sec- 
retary. At a meeting held at Indianapolis on November 2, Balti- 
more and Buffalo were admitted to the league ; and former Man- 
ager George Stovall, of the St. Louis American League Club, 
was engaged as manager of the Kansas City Club — he being the 
first major league player to jump reservation. At a meeting held 
at Chicago on November 15, acting President Gilmore was 
elected as president for a year and Mr. Rickart was elected as 
secretary for the same term; and each club posted $25,000 as 
guarantee to meet all obligations. It was also announced as the 
policy of the organization to respect all organized ball contracts, 
but to disregard reservation rights in negotiating with and sign- 
ing players — which was in effect a declaration of war upon 
organized ball. At this meeting E. H. Hanlon, of Baltimore, 
former manager of the Baltimore and Brooklyn National League 
Clubs, allied himself with the Federal League as a delegate of 
the Baltimore Club. After this meeting up to the end of the 19 13 
year, there were many rumors of Federal League negotiations 
with prominent major league players, but no positive announce- 
ments of desertion from the ranks of organized ball, until Decem- 
ber 2y, when .shortstop Joseph Tinker, who had just been sold 
by Cincinnati to Brooklyn ; and pitcher Mordecai Brown, of Cin- 
cinnati, signed with Federal League clubs. On this day also it 
was announced that the Cleveland franchise had been placed in 
Toronto. 

THE PLAYERS FACTORS IN WAR. 

Up to this time the Federal League had received no positive 
encouragement from individual major league players, but the 
Base Ball Players' Fraternity — an organization embracmg 
National League, American League, International League and 
American Association players to the number of about 700 — had 
given the independent league movement passive support through 
a decision of "neutrality" by their leader. President David L. 
Fultz, pending National Commission action upon some demands 
for important concessions presented to the supreme governing 
body by the Fraternity through President Fultz — the players thus 
once more proving themselves disquieting factors in a crisis, as 
9 



130 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

they did in 1884, 1890, 1901 and 1902. In 1884 there was no 
player organization, so no great harm was done. In 1890 the 
players were organized and this fact enabled them to play a ruin- 
ous part in the great catastrophe of that year, namely, the National 
League-Players' League war. The defeat of the Players' League 
in that monumental conflict destroyed the Players' Brotherhood 
and for ten years there was no concerted action of any kind by 
the players of any league. 

THE second players' BROTHERHOOD 

was organized in 1900 by the players of the National League 
after the league circuit had been reduced from twelve clubs to 
eight clubs. During the 1900 season team meetings were held to 
consider a plan of organization submitted by President Gompers, 
of the Federation of Labor. At a general meeting, held in New 
York, June 10, 1900, the League Players' Protective Association 
was permanently organized with Charles L. Zimmer, president; 
William Clarke, treasurer; Hugh Jennings, secretary; and for- 
mer player Harry L. Taylor (afterward a Judge in New York 
State) as attorney for the Association. Later the American 
League and Eastern League players were organized into affiliated 
organizations. At a meeting held September 10, the American 
League and Eastern League players were admitted to full mem- 
bership; a grievance committee, consisting of one member from 
each club was elected; and a new form of contract, drawn by 
Lawyer Taylor, was adopted and a committee to present the same 
to the National League was appointed, consisting of Messrs. 
Zimmer, Jennings and Taylor. Simultaneously an order was 
promulgated to all members to sign no contract or agreement 
pending conference with the National League or without the 
approval of Lawyer Taylor. 

UNTENABLE BROTHERHOOD DEMANDS. 

When the National League met in New York December 10, 
1910, it appointed Messrs. Soden, Brush and Rogers a committee 
to publicly confer with the Players' Committee. At this hearing 
Lawyer Taylor stated that in substance the players' demands 
were: i — The abolition of "farming" and "claiming" players; 
2 — the abolition of sales and assignments of players without their 



Big Wars of Base Ball 131 

consent ; 3 — the limitation of players' reservation to a fixed period 
of three years, or five years. The National League Committee 
before adjournment requested these demands be put in writing. 
When these written demands were presented it was found that 
they were radically different from Lawyer Taylor's oral demands. 
In the written memorandum it was found that these radical points 
were embodied: 

First — Club owners not to have the right to "reserve" players at a 

salary less than that paid in the preceding year, nor for more than 

three years. 
Second — Not to buy, sell, assign, trade, lend, accept, select or claim 

service of any player, for any period in any way, without his 

written consent. 
Third — Club owners to pay physicians' fees for injuries received in 

actual play. 
Fourth — No player to be suspended without pay more than three times 

a season, or two weeks at a time. 
Fifth — Committee of Arbitration, one member to be chosen by owners, 

one by the players, and a third by these two, such committee to 

pass on all differences between players and owners. 

In addition to this, in the contract drawn by Lawyer Taylor 
all reference to the National Agreement and the National League 
constitution was omitted; the word "assign" was everywhere 
stricken out ; the arbiter was made omnipotent ; secret agreements 
and side contracts were forbidden; and the player was given 
equal rights with the club owner to serve ten days' notice of 
release from contract for violation of any of its provisions. 

THE players' demands REFUSED. 

As these conditions were utterly incompatible with the suc- 
cessful conduct of professional ball the League Committee 
reported the matter to the League with a negative recommenda- 
tion. The League accepted the report, discharged the Committee 
and took no further action. The Players' Committee then asked 
for another hearing, offering to withdraw all demands except the 
three demands publicly discussed, which appeal was declined by 
the Kational League. The Players' Committee then, after con- 
sultation with Attorney Taylor, issued a formal notice to all 
members of the Association that another effort for a re-hearing 
at the League's Spring meeting would be made, pending which no 
contracts should be signed, except that the American League — 



132 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

which had accepted the demands of the Players' Association — 
could sign its own players. 

demands scaled down. 

A special meeting of the Players' Protective Association was 
held at Cleveland, February 4, at which over 30 delegates from 
the National League, American League and Eastern League were 
present. At this meeting the new contract was revised to more 
nearly meet the club owners' views, and the players' demands 
were whittled down to three, viz. : ( i ) The abolition of all forms 
of "farming;" (2) the abolition of the sales system without the 
consent, in writing, executed in triplicate, of the player involved ; 
(3) the reference of all club disputes with players to temporary 
Boards of Arbitration in each case, with $100 penalty upon either 
party for failure to accept the Board findings. Notice was also 
issued that the decree against signing contracts was still in effect, 
and that no players should sign with the American League except 
those who had finished in 1900 with that organization. This 
was done to prevent National League players deserting to the 
American League, which was in open revolt against the National 
Agreement. By this order the Association protected both the 
National League and the original American League players, and 
for a time saved the Players' Association from disruption. 
President Zimmer was appointed a committee of one to again 
wait on the National League. 

' - A compromise REACHED. 

At the League Spring meeting in New York a new com- 
mittee — Messrs. Brush, Hart and Soden — met to discuss the 
new demands of the Players' Association, formulated at the 
Cleveland meeting, with Mr. Zimmer. After a seven-hour con- 
ference a compromise was reached. The League committee 
agreed to the first two demands ; also to reduce the option in all 
new contracts to one year, thus making each new contract vir- 
tually a two-year contract; also not to transfer a team in a body 
from a disbanded club at less salary or to a league inferior in 
rank. In return Mr. Zimmer waived the Arbitration Committee 
demand, it being held that if adopted the game would become 
demoralized by endless appointments of and squabbles with arbi- 



Big Wars of Base Ball 133 

tration committees. These changes were embodied in a new con- 
tract which the League approved, and Mr. Zimmer was further- 
more entrusted with the printing of the same on behalf of the 
National League. 

A FUTILE AND DEADLY CONCESSION. 

When this compromise was reached the League demanded 
that the Players' Association protect the National League against 
the violation of the option clause by its members, and also to 
expel deserting players. This Zimmer was not prepared to grant, 
but after consultation with players Doyle and Keeler and instruc- 
tion by wire from Attorney Taylor he submitted the following 
notice to players : 

"As president of the Players' Protective Association, and as its 
authorized representative, I hereby agree, in return for the concessions 
granted by the National League this 26th day of February, 1901, that 
all National League or Eastern League players vrho may sign American 
League contracts will be suspended pending action by the Players' 
Protective Association as a body. 

"CHARLES ZIMMER." 

This was promulgated at once by Mr. Zimmer, and, the ban 
being lifted, player-signing began at once. The notice, however, 
proved futile to prevent desertion of National League players to 
the American League. The futility of the agreement lay in the 
fact that suspensions were only temporary, and had to be made 
permanent by vote of the Association "as a body ;" in short, by a 
majority vote of all members, which it was impossible to obtain, 
as the ball players, as a mass, refused, from their viewpoint, to 
expel a fellow-member for attempting to get the highest possible 
salary. As the inter-league war continued throughout 1901 and 
1902, and more players deserted to the American League, the 
players became still more divided in sentiment, and as the Ameri- 
can League, as a body, became hostile to the Players' Association, 
which the National League had attempted to use for its own pro- 
tection, the Players' Protective Association quietly died in 1902, 
with no mourners at its bier. 

THE THIRD PLAYERS'' ORGANIZATION 

was, after another lapse of ten years, revived in 1912, by David 
L. Fultz, a former major league player, and later a practicing 



134 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

lawyer in New York City — a "limb of the law" thus, for the third 
time in history, becoming a leader of professional base ball play- 
ers. This latest organization was the outcome of the strike of 
the Detroit players in May, 191 2, out of sympathy with outfielder 
Cobb, who was properly suspended by President Johnson for an 
assault upon a spectator in the grandstand of the New York Club 
during a game upon the New York Club's grounds. The strike 
lasted three days and was settled at a special meeting of the 
American League, held in Philadelphia, at which the Detroit 
players were fined three days' pay each and player Cobb was 
ordered to trial before President Johnson, who, after ten days' 
suspension without pay, reinstated him with a stinging reprimand 
for provoking the row with the New York spectator he assaulted. 
The preliminary steps were taken at secret meetings in Mr. 
Fultz's law offices about the time the major leagues were on their 
Eastern trips. The American League delegates met on July 21 
and the National League delegates on August 4 — each time in 
Lawyer Fultz's office. At these meetings it was decided to incor- 
porate the organization under the title "Base Ball Players' Fra- 
ternity," and Lawyer Fultz was delegated to secure a charter and 
to perfect the plans for the organization. 

a charter was granted 

to David L. Fultz on behalf of the new organization on Septem- 
ber 5 by New York Supreme Court Justice Delany, who signed 
the certificate of incorporation. In support of the petition of 
incorporation affidavits from 17 present players of the two major 
leagues were submitted, and every club excepting the Athletics, of 
the American League, was represented. In the certificate five 
reasons were given for the forming of a Base Ball Players' Fra- 
ternity, viz., the association will endeavor to protect the reasonable 
contractual rights of the players, and as well strive to enforce 
reasonable contractual obligations toward the managers; it will 
work toward the establishment of proper and pleasant relations 
with the public and toward the preservation of the general public 
welfare as regards the public's favorite game; and, in addition, 
it will insure to all base ball players expert legal advice in all their 
troubles. No managers or officers of the respective clubs are 
eligible for membership. 



Big Wars of Base Ball 135 

a permanent organization 

was effected in New York City on October 20 at a meeting held 
in Lawyer Fultz's offices. Every club in the National and Ameri- 
can Leagues was represented except the two Boston Clubs and 
the Cleveland Club, of the American League, and 288 players 
were enrolled as members. Present at the meeting besides Law- 
yer Fultz were the following directors : Christy Mathewson, New 
York Nationals; Edward Sweeney, New York Americans; Jake 
Daubert, Brooklyn; Mike Doolan, Philadelphia Nationals; Ira 
Thomas, Philadelphia Americans; John Henry, Washington; 
John Evers, Chicago Nationals ; G. Harris White, Chicago Ameri- 
cans; Ty Cobb, Detroit; Mike Mowrey, St. Louis Nationals; 
Derrell Pratt, St. Louis Americans ; John Miller, Pittsburgh, and 
Richard Egan, Cincinnati. The election of officers for the year 
resulted as follows: President, David L. Fultz; vice-presidents, 
Christy Mathewson, Edward Sweeney, Mike Doolan and Ty 
Cobb ; secretary, Jake Daubert. No treasurer was elected at this 
meeting. These officers were to act as an advisory board, to 
which all disputes or questions involving the rights of the players 
were to be referred for settlement, as well as other matters. 

ATTEMPTS TO CREATE ISSUES. 

At the annual meeting of the Fraternity in New York, Octo- 
ber 16, 191 3, President Fultz was re-elected — with an advisory 
board consisting of players Ray Collins, Jacob Daubert, John P. 
Henry and John B. Miller — notwithstanding the fact that during 
the season the National Commission, irritated by repeated cen- 
sorious communications from President Fultz, had stated pub- 
licly that it would have no further dealings with him. President 
Fultz's first letter to the National Commission, in June, demanded 
that a player suspended upon complaint of an umpire be first 
given a hearing; to which the National Commission replied that 
such a proceeding would cause delays inimical to discipline and 
destructive of the immediate efficacy of the rule. President Fultz 
then made a demand upon the National Commission that in all 
cases where a major league player was to be transferred to a 
minor league his major league contract should follow him. To 
two letters on this subject the National Commission replied, show- 
ing that such a rule would have ruinous effect upon the minor 



136 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

leagues ; limit the number of players taken on for trial by major 
league clubs, thereby hindering the advance of young players; 
and would have in time a lowering effect upon the standard of 
major league salaries. Not satisfied with these replies, President 
Fultz, in apparent anxiety to create an issue, attempted to pro- 
long the controversy, both directly and through the public press, 
whereupon the National Commission, in a public communication, 
made a final answer to President Fultz, concluding with the state- 
ment that it would give the players, individually or collectively, 
hearing at any time and upon any question, but would have no 
further dealings with Mr. Fultz. 

THE FRATERNITY MAKES DEMANDS. 

Thereafter President Fultz troubled the National Commis- 
sion no more except by way of continuous criticism, over his sig- 
nature, of National Commission decisions in a New York maga- 
zine ; but most of the Summer of 1912 he spent in successful efforts 
to bring the International League and American Association 
players into the Fraternity's fold. Pending the annual meeting 
of the Base Ball Players' Fraternity, Mr. Fultz also formulated 
the alleged grievances of the players into a list of demands, 17 
in number, and of varying degrees of importance, which were 
approved by the Fraternity as a body and ordered to be presented 
to the National Commission and National Board by President 
Fultz, pending consideration of, and action upon which, all mem- 
bers of the Fraternity were pledged not to sign 1914 contracts. 
The demands were as follows: 

First — When a player receives 10 days' notice of unconditional 
release he shall be free to sign with any team immediately, the con- 
tract to run from the expiration of the 10-day period. 

Second — National Association players shall receive 10 days' notice 
before they can be released unconditionally. 

Third — When a player is transferred he shall be transferred sub- 
ject to all of the terms of his contract. 

Fourth — When a player is transferred he shall be furnished with 
a writing which shall be binding on all the parties concerned, showing 
what clubs have a claim on him, and what the claim is. 

Fifth — When a player receives his unconditional release or when 
waivers are asked upon him, he shall be notified in writing to that 
effect. 

Sixth — At the time contracts are sent out every player shall 
receive a copy to be kept by him for his own use. 



Big Wars op Base Ball 137 

Seventh — All written agreements, whether embodied in formal 
contract or not, shall be binding upon both the club and player. 

Eighth — Every team shall furnish each player two complete uni- 
forms, exclusive of shoes. 

Ninth — Every team shall pay the actual traveling expenses of its 
players from their homes to the training camps, or so much thereof as 
does not exceed the expense from the league city to the training camp. 

Tenth — If a regular contract is not tendered a probationary player 
before the expiration of the 45-day probationary period, he shall be a 
free agent. 

Eleventh — If a player has been in the major leagues for any por- 
tion of the playing season of 10 different years, and if at any time 
after the beginning of his tenth year no team in such league desires 
his services, he shall receive his unconditional release, subject, how- 
ever, to reservation by the club which signs him. 

Twelfth — If a player has been in the major and the Class AA 
leagues for any portion of the playing season of 12 different years, and 
if at any time after the beginning of the twelfth year no team in such 
leagues desires his services he shall receive his unconditional release, 
subject, however, to reservation by the team which signs him. 

Thirteenth — When a team asks for waivers on a player it shall 
not be permitted to withdraw requests. 

Fourteenth — When a player is fined or suspended he shall be given 
notice in writing, stating the amount of the fine or the duration of the 
suspension and the reason therefor. 

Fifteenth — No player shall be discriminated against or his posi- 
tion in organized base ball in any way affected because of his con- 
nection with the Fraternity. 

Sixteenth — Every park shall be equipped with a blank wall painted 
dark green placed back of center field in line with the pitchers' plate 
and home base of sufllcient size to afford a background for pitched 
balls. 

Seventeenth — Before a ball player shall be released outright to a 
team of lower classification waivers shall be secured first from all 
teams in his classification, and then from all teams, if any, between 
that classification and the one to which he goes, according to their 
priority and grade. Before a drafted or purchased player shall be 
released under an optional agreement prior to expiration of the season 
following his draft or purchase, waivers shall be secured from all 
teams, if any, between that classification and the one to which he goes, 
according to their priority and grade. Before a drafted or purchased 
player after the expiration of the season following his draft or pur- 
chase, or any other player at any time, shall be released under an 
optional agreement, waivers shall be secured from all teams in his 
classification at $1500 if he be a major leaguer, and $750 if he be an 
"AA" classification player. This paragraph, however, is subject to 
requisitions 11 and 12. Waivers having been secured as set forth in 
either of the two foregoing paragraphs, a player may then be released 
under an optional agreement at any price, which shall be the 
same for all classifications, by tendering him to the lower classifica- 
tions according to their priority in grade; provided, however, that in 
all cases where waivers are to be secured from the "AA" classifica- 



138 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

tions, they need be secured from only the International League and the 
American Association. 

Some of these demands were so inconsequential that it was a 
matter of surprise that they should have been presented at all in 
combination with such radical, and virtually revolutionary, 
demands — two of which had already been denied by the National 
Commission informally in reply to President Fultz's letters, as 
stated above — as were embodied in Clauses i, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12 and 
17, each requiring National Agreement amendment — a difficult 
matter considering the unanimity requisite to amendment — par- 
ticularly as the minor leagues were quite as gravely affected as the 
major leagues by some of the players' demands. 

THRESHING OUT THE DEMANDS. 

The National Association, at its annual meeting in Novem- 
ber, at Columbus, O., considered the demands affecting the minor 
leagues, voiced its opinions and referred them to its National 
Board for joint action with the National Commission. The 
American League, at its November meeting in Chicago, and the 
National League, at its December meeting in New York, also went 
over the demands thoroughly, and instructed their respective mem- 
bers of the National Commission as to their views on the various 
demands, and then the National Commission set the time and 
place for consideration of the Fraternity's demands as January 6, 
19 14, at Cincinnati, O. Previous to this, however. Chairman 
Herrmann, of the National Commission, in a speech at the 
National Association meeting in Columbus, had served notice that 
the National Commission had decided upon its policy and that 
the independent Federal League would not be molested unless it 
sought to secure signed or reserved National Agreement players ; 
that in such event the courts would be resorted to to enforce the 
option clause in the contract ; that all deserting players would be 
treated as contract-breakers, never to be re-admitted to organized 
ball ; and that the National Commission would not treat with Presi- 
dent Fultz, of the Players' Fraternity, alone. The last-named stand 
of the National Commission for a time threatened to create a dead- 
lock on the question of a hearing for the Fraternity, but this was 
obviated when, on December 26, President Fultz answered that 
he had appointed a committee of five players to meet the National 



Big Wars of Base Ball 139 

Commission and National Board on January 6. Pending this 
joint conference, players Joseph Tinker and Mordecai Brown, 
respectively of the Brooklyn and Cincinnati National League 
Clubs, produced a new complication by violating the pending 
"neutrality" rule of the Fraternity, and signing, respectively, with 
the Chicago and St. Louis Clubs, of the independent Federal 
League, as managers. 

THE players^ demands SETTLED. 

The hearing of the Players' Fraternity demands took place 
at Cincinnati on January 6, after the annual meeting of the Na- 
tional Commission. The session was public and the deliberating 
parties were the National Commission, the National Board and 
the Players' Fraternity Committee, consisting of President Fultz 
and players Ray Collins, Edward Reulbach, John B. Miller, John 
Henry and Jacob E. Daubert. The session consumed a day and 
half a night, and the result was a compromise under which the 
National Commission granted 11 of the 17 demands, modified 2, 
rejected 3, and held the 17th demand in abeyance for future 
mutually agreeable reconstruction. 

WHAT THE PLAYERS SECURED. 

The demands granted by the National Commission were as 
follows : No. I, that a released player shall be free to sign with 
any other club immediately, but his contract to run from the 
expiration of the lo-days' period. No. 2, modified. No. 4, that 
a player transferred shall be notified in writing of all the con- 
ditions of his transfer. No. 5, that a player shall be notified of 
his unconditional release in writing. No. 6, that a player shall 
receive a copy of his contract. No. 7, that all written agree- 
ments shall be mutually binding. No. 8, that clubs shall furnish 
all uniforms at their expense. No. 9, that all clubs pay traveling 
expenses in training season. No. 10, that players not tendered 
regular contracts before the expiration of the 45-days' probation- 
ary period shall be free agents. No. 11, that players serving 10 
years in major leagues shall be free agents. No. 11, same rule 
applied to minor leagues, amended from 12 to 15 years. No. 14, 
that fined or suspended players shall be notified in writing. No. 
15, that no player shall be discriminated against because of his 



I40 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

fraternity connection. No. i6, that all parks be equipped with 
a blank wall, painted green. 

WHAT players DID NOT GET. 

The National Commission and National Board declined to 
accept without modification demands 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 13 and 17. No. 
2, which asked that "National Association players shall receive 
lo-days' notice before they can be released unconditionally," 
was modified to include a five-days' notice of release to Class 
AA and Class A players, but took no notice whatever of leagues 
in any lower classification. No. 3 was conceded by the Players' 
Fraternity with announcement that they leave it to the Com- 
mission to do what the latter considered equitable. It reads: 
"When a player is transferred he shall be subject to all the terms 
of his contract." In No. 5, the inclusion of waivers was eliminated 
and the rule will now read: "When a player is given his un- 
conditional release he shall be notified in writing to that effect." 
No. 7, which dealt with side agreements, was amended so that 
no side agreements are permissible and that a club making a 
side agreement be fined $500 by the National Commission. No. 
12, which reads: "If a player has been in the Major and Class 
A A leagues for any portion of the playing season for 12 different 
years, and if at any time after the beginning of the twelfth 
year no team in such leagues desires his services, he shall receive 
his unconditional release, etc.," was modified to read 15 years 
instead of 12 years. No. 13, that waivers shall not be with- 
drawn, was rejected as impractical. 

A SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION. 

The most discussed question was Demand 17, which con- 
tained five paragraphs relating to waiver rules, a complex sub- 
ject, which produced hours of debate and on which the National 
Commission made its firmest stand. The Fraternity's aim in 
this demand was to so regulate waivers as to prolong the term 
of players as long as possible in the highest leagues and to make 
it more difficult than heretofore to shunt them into the smaller 
leagues. The National Commission fully agreed with the in- 
tent of the request, but, after much argument, it was decided 
that the manner in which it was worded was not feasible and 
would not work out. It was therefore decided to draft new 
waiver rules to be considered at a future meeting. 




William C. Temple 



Former Pittsburgh Club President Who Donated the Temple Cup 
for Post-Season Honors 



WORLD^S CHAMPIONS 

Accurate anb SnteresJtmg JRecorb of tfie ^eriesf $laj>eb, 
€ber g>ince tfte SnsJtitution of 3Ribal ifWajor leaguejef, 
Pettoeen tfje iWajor league Champion Wtam^ for tije 
g>ttpreme tCttle of **®tie Cfjampions; of tfie «orlb/' 



^ 


A 


^w 


"^ ^*=^ ■ 



FEATURE of modern Base Ball which 
came into being with the S3^stem of dual 
major leagues, inaugurated in 1882 with 
the advent of the first American Associa- 
tion as a rival to the then supreme 
National League, was an annual series of 
games between the champion teams of 
the major leagues, decisive of what was 
termed the supreme, or the world's, championship. These series 
have always been of absorbing interest and an historical review 
of the events forms an interesting part of the history of Base 
Ball. Such a review was compiled and published in Sporting 
Llfe some years ago, and is now reprinted here and brought up 
to date by the writer, who has been in intimate touch with the 
modern World's Series, of which he has been one of the official 
scorers since 1905, by annual appointment of the National Com- 
mission. Up to 191 3 there had been 16 such World's Cham- 
pionship Series, of which is herewith given 

THE CHRONOLOGY. 

The first World's Championship series of record was played 
in 1884 between the Providence team, champion of the National 
League, and the Metropolitan team, of New York, champion of 
the American Association. These inter-league series were played 
annually until 1890, inclusive. The National League- American 
Association war of 1891 interrupted the series. After the con- 
solidation of the National League and American Association in 
1892 the i2-club National League divided the. schedule into two 
seasons, and at the end the leading team of each season played 
a final series for the championship of the entire season. In 1893 
the National League abandoned the double-season plan and with 
it went the post-season championship series. In 1894 the series 
was revived as a post-season event, the first and second teams of 



142 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

the National League playing a post-season series under National 
League auspices, for a cup donated by President Temple, of the 
Pittsburgh Club. This was contested for annually from 1894 to 
1897, inclusive, when the National League abolished the series. 

the modern series. 

From 1897 to 1903 there was no major league post-season 
series of any kind, as in these years the National League alone 
occupied the major league field. In 1901 the American League 
expanded, which caused the National League-American League 
war of 1901-02. After the Cincinnati Peace Treaty was signed 
by the two rival leagues and a new National Agreement was 
adopted in 1903, the World's Championship Series was resumed, 
Pittsburgh and Boston being the contestants. In 1904 the Bos- 
ton team again won the American League championship, but the 
National League had a new champion team in the New York 
Club. When challenged, according to custom, by Boston, the 
New York Club refused to play a World's Series, and Boston 
claimed the World's Championship title by default. The Ameri- 
can League declared that New York's refusal to play was a vir- 
tual violation of the spirit, if not the letter, of the Peace Treaty, 
while New York based its refusal to play upon the fact that 
there were no formal rules to govern a contest in which the 
prestige and honor of each league were involved quite as much 
as the glory of the individual club. To remedy this defect Presi- 
dent Brush, of the New York Club, formulated a complete set 
of rules to govern such contests in future. 

the governing rules. 

This code of rules was submitted to the two major leagues 
and adopted by each, with some slight amendments, and under 
these rules the World's Championship Series, which were made 
mandatory, have since been played annually. Under these rules 
the conduct of the series was placed under the absolute control 
of the National Commission, and the contesting clubs were 
bonded in the sum of $10,000 for the faithful performance of 
all of the rules governing the series. The number of games was 
fixed at seven, three for each ground of the contesting clubs, the 
choice of the first three games to be determined by lot, and the 



World's Champions 143 

place of the seventh game by the Commission. Two umpires 
from each league must be chosen to officiate. The winning club 
receives a pennant and each player of the winning team a suit- 
able emblem provided by the Commission. The players of the 
two clubs receive 60 per cent, of the gross receipts of the first 
four games, of which amount 75 per cent, is assigned to the 
winning team and 25 per cent, to the losing team (this propor- 
tion was subsequently changed to 60 and 40 per cent.). The 
National Commission receives 10 per cent, of the gross receipts 
from all games, and after this amount and that of the players 
have been deducted, the remaining sum is divided equally 
between the two clubs. Under this arrangement the World's 
Series has since been played to general public satisfaction and 
ever-increasing interest and attendance. We give herewith a 
concise but accurate record of all world's championship series: 

THE 1884 SERIES. 

Between the Providence Club, of the National League, and the 
Metropolitan Club, of the American Association. Results: 

October 23 — Providence vs. Metropolitans, Polo Grounds 6-0 

October 24 — Providence vs. Metropolitans, Polo Grounds 3-1 

October 25 — Providence vs. Metropolitans, Polo Grounds 11-2 

Providence victories, 3. 

THE PLAYERS. 

Providence — Pitchers, Radbourn, Conley; catchers, Gilligan, 
Nava; basemen. Start, Farrell, Denny; shortstop, Irwin; fielders, Car- 
roll, Hines, Radford. Manager, Frank Bancroft. 

Metropolitan — Pitchers, Keefe, Lynch; catchers, Holbert, Reip- 
schlager; basemen, Orr, Troy, Esterbrook; shortstop. Nelson; fielders, 
Kennedy, Roseman, Brady. Manager, James Mutrie. 

THE 1885 SERIES. 

Between the Chicago Club, of the National League, and the St. 
Louis Club, of the American Association. Results: 
October 14 — St. Louis vs. Chicago, at Chicago (eight innings) ... 5-5 
October 15 — Chicago vs. St. Louis, at St. Louis (eight innings, 

forfeited) 9-0 

October 16 — St. Louis vs. Chicago, at St. Louis 7-4 

October 17 — St. Louis vs. Chicago, at St. Louis 3-2 

October 22 — Chicago vs. St. Louis, at Pittsburgh (seven innings), 9-2 

October 23 — Chicago vs. St. Louis, at Cincinnati 9-2 

October 24 — St. Louis vs. Chicago, at Chicago 13-4 

Chicago victories, 3; St. Louis victories, 3; drawn, 1. 

The winner of the contest was to receive $1000, contributed by 
A. G. Spalding, of Chicago, and Chris. Von der Ahe, of St. Louis. 
The purse was equally divided. 



144 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

THE PLAYERS. 

Chicago — Pitchers, Clarkson, McCormick; catcher, Flint; basemen, 
Anson, Pfeffer, Williamson; shortstop. Burns; fielders, Dairy mple, 
Gore, Kelly, Sunday. Manager, A. O. Anson. 

St. Louis — Pitchers, Oarruthers, Foutz; catcher, Bushong; base- 
men, Comiskey, Robinson, Latham; shortstop, Gleason; fielders, Welch, 
Nicol, O'Neil. Manager, Charles Comiskey. 

THE 1886 SERIES. 

Between the Chicago Club, of the National League, and the St. 
Louis Club, of the American Association. Results: 

October 18 — Chicago vs. St. Louis, at Chicago 6-0 

October 19 — St. Louis vs. Chicago, at Chicago (eight innings) 12-0 

October 20 — Chicago vs. St. Louis, at Chicago (eight innings) .... 11-4 

October 21 — St. Louis vs. Chicago, at St. Louis (seven innings) ... 8-5 

October 22 — St. Louis vs. Chicago, at St. Louis (six innings) 10-3 

October 23 — St. Louis vs. Chicago, at St. Louis (ten innings) 4-3 

St. Louis victories, 4; Chicago, 2. 

THE PLAYERS. 

St. Louis — Pitchers, Carruthers, Foutz, Hudson; catcher, Bushong » 
basemen, Comiskey, Robinson, Latham; shortstop, Gleason; fielders, 
O'Neil, Welch, Foutz, Hudson. Manager, Charles Comiskey. 

Chicago — Pitchers, McCormick, Clarkson; catchers, Flint, Kelly; 
basemen, Anson, PfefCer, Burns; shortstop, Williamson; fielders, Dal- 
rymple. Gore, Ryan. Manager, A. C. Anson. 

THE 1887 SERIES. 

Between the Detroit Club, of the National League, and the St. 
Louis Club, of the American Association. Results: 

October 10 — St. Louis vs. Detroit, at St. Louis 6-1 

October 11 — Detroit vs. St. Louis, at St. Louis 5-3 

October 12 — Detroit vs. St. Louis, at Detroit (13 innings) 2-1 

October 13 — Detroit vs. St. Louis, at Pittsburgh 8-0 

October 14 — St. Louis vs. Detroit, at Brooklyn 5-2 

October 15 — Detroit vs. St. Louis, at New York 9-0 

October IT — Detroit vs. St. Louis, at Philadelphia 3-1 

October 18 — Detroit vs. St. Louis, at Boston 9-2 

October 19 — Detroit vs. St. Louis, at Philadelphia 4-2 

October 21 — St. Louis vs. Detroit, at Washington (A. M.) 11-4 

October 21 — Detroit vs. St. Louis, at Baltimore (P. M.) 13-3 

October 24 — Detroit vs. St. Louis, at Detroit 6-3 

October 25 — Detroit vs. St. Louis, at Chicago 4-3 

October 26— St. Louis vs. Detroit, at Detroit 9-2 

Detroit victories, 10; St. Louis, 4. 

Total receipts, $42,000; expenses, $18,000; balance, $24,000, divided 
equally between Detroit and St. Louis. 

THE PLAYERS. 

Detroit — ^Pitchers, Getzein, Baldwin, Conway; catchers, Bennett, 
Ganzel; basemen, Ganzel, Brouthers, Dunlap, White; shortstop, Rowe; 



World's Champions 145 

fielders, Thompson, Hanlon, Richardson, Twitehell. Manager, W. H. 
Watkins. 

St. Louis — Pitchers, Carruthers, Foutz, King; catchers, Bushong, 
Boyle; basemen, Oomiskey, Robinson, Latham; shortstop, Gleason; 
fielders, O'Neil, Welch, Foutz. Manager, Charles Comiskey. 

THE 1888 SERIES. 

Between the New York Club, of the National League, and the St. 
Louis Club, of the American Association. Results: 

Score. Receipts. 

October 16— New York vs. St. Louis, at New York ... 2-1 $2,876.50 

October 17— St. Louis vs. New York, at New York... 3- 3,375.50 

October 18— New York vs. St. Louis, at New York... 4- 2 3,530.00 

October 19— New York vs. St. Louis, at Brooklyn 6- 3 1,562.00 

October 20— New York vs. St. Louis, at New York... 6- 4 5,624.50 
October 22 — New York vs. St. Louis, at Philadelphia 

(8 innings) 12-5 1,781.60 

October 24 — St. Louis vs. New York at St. Louis 

(8 innings) 7-5 2,624.00 

October 25— New York vs. St. Louis, at St. Louis 11- 3 2,365.00 

October 26 — St. Louis vs. New York, at St. Louis 

(10 innings) 14-11 411.00 

October 27— St. Louis vs. New York, at St. Louis ... 18-7 212.00 

Total receipts $24,362.10 

New York victories, 6; St. Louis, 4. 

Expenses, $8,000, divided equally between New York and St. Louis. 

THE PLAYERS. 

New York — Pitchers, Welch, Crane, Keefe, George; catchers, 
Ewing, Brown, Murphy; basemen, Connor, Richardson, Whitney; short- 
stop. Ward; fielders, O'Rourke, Slattery, Tiernan. Manager, James 
Mutrie. 

St. Louis — Pitchers, King, Chamberlain; catcher, Milligan; base- 
men, Comiskey, Robinson, Latham; shortstop. White; fielders, O'Neil, 
Lyons, McCarthy. Manager, Charles Comiskey. 

THE 1889 SERIES. 

Between the New York Club, of the National League, and the 
Brooklyn Club, of the American Association. Results: 

Score. Receipts. 
October 18 — Brooklyn vs. New York, at New York 

(8 innings) 12-10 $4,224.00 

October 19— New York vs. Brooklyn, at Brooklyn.. 6-2 8,086.00 
October 22 — Brooklyn vs. New York, at New York 

(8 innings) 8-7 2,590.50 

October 23 — Brooklyn vs. New York, at Brooklyn 

(8 innings) 10- 7 1,522.50 

October 24 — New York vs. Brooklyn, at Brooklyn.. 11-8 1,450.50 
October 25 — New York vs. Brooklyn, at New York 

(11 innings) 2-1 1,278,00 

10 



146 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

October 26— New York vs. Brooklyn, at New York.. 11- 7 1,656.00 

October 28 — New York vs. Brooklyn, at Brooklyn.. 16- 7 1,292.00 

October 29— New York vs. Brooklyn, at New York.. 3- 2 1,528.50 



Total receipts $29,628.00 

Victories — New York, 6; Brooklyn, 3. 

THE PLAYERS. 

New York — Pitchers, Keefe, Welch, Crane, O'Day; catchers, 
Ewing, Brown; basemen, Connor, Richardson, Whitney; shortstop. 
Ward; fielders, O'Rourke, Gore, Tiernan. Manager, James Mutrie. 

Brooklyn — Pitchers, Terry, Carruthers, Lovett, Hughes; catchers, 
Visner, Bushong, Clark; basemen, Foutz, Collins, Pinckney; shortstop, 
G. Smith; fielders, O'Brien, Corkhill, Brown. Manager, W. McGun- 
nigle. 

THE 1890 SERIES. 

Between the Brooklyn Club, of the National League, and the 
Louisville Club, of the American Association. Results: 

October 17 — Brooklyn vs. Louisville, at Louisville 9-0 

October 18 — Brooklyn vs. Louisville, at Louisville 5-3 

October 20 — Brooklyn vs. Louisville, at Louisville 7-7 

October 21 — Louisville vs. Brooklyn, at Louisville 5-4 

October 25 — Brooklyn vs. Louisville, at Brooklyn 7-2 

October 27 — Louisville vs. Brooklyn, at Brooklyn 9-8 

October 28 — Louisville vs. Brooklyn, at Brooklyn 6-2 

Victories — Brooklyn, 3; Louisville, 3; drawn, 1. 

THE PLAYERS. 

Brooklyn — Pitchers, Lovett, Carruthers, Terry, Hughes; catchers, 
Daly, Bushong, Clark; basemen, Foutz, Collins, Pinckney; shortstop, 
G. Smith; fielders, O'Brien, Corkhill, Burns, Donovan. Manager, W. 
McGunnigle. 

Louisville — Pitchers, Stratton, Ehret, Daily, Meekin; catchers, 
Ryan, Weckbecker; basemen, Taylor, Shinnick, Raymond; shortstop, 
Tomney; fielders, Hamburg, Weaver, Wolf. Manager, John Chapman. 

THE 1892 SERIES. 

Between the Cleveland team (first season winner), and the Boston 
team (second season winner), both of the National League. Results: 

October 17 — Boston vs. Cleveland, at Cleveland (11 innings) 0-0 

October 18 — Boston vs. Cleveland, at Cleveland 4-3 

October 19 — Boston vs. Cleveland, at Cleveland 3-2 

October 21 — Boston vs. Cleveland, at Boston 4-0 

October 22 — Boston vs. Cleveland, at Boston 12-7 

October 23 — Boston vs. Cleveland, at Boston 8-3 

Victories — Boston, 5; drawn, 1. 

THE PLAYERS. 

Boston — Pitchers, Nichols, Stivetts, Staley; catchers, Kelly, Ben- 
nett, Ganzel; basemen. Tucker, Quinn, Nash; shortstop. Long; fielders, 
Lowe, Duffy, McCarthy. Manager, Frank Selee. 



World's Champions 147 

Cleveland — Pitchers, Young, Clarkson, Cuppy; catcher, Zimmer; 
basemen, Virtue, Childs, Tebeau; shortstop, McKean; fielders, Burkett, 
McAleer, O'Connor. Manager, Oliver Tebeau. 

THE 1894 SERIES. 

Between the Baltimore (champion) and New York (second place) 
teams, of the National League, for the Temple Cup. Results: 

October 4 — New York vs. Baltimore, at Baltimore 4-1 

October 5 — New York vs. Baltimore, at Baltimore 9-6 

October 6 — New York vs. Baltimore, at New York 4-1 

October 8 — New York vs. Baltimore, at New York 16-3 

Victories — New York, 4. 

THE PLAYERS. 

New York — Pitchers, Rusie, Meekin; catcher, Farrell; basemen, 
Doyle, Ward, Davis; shortstop, Fuller; fielders, Burke, Van Haltren, 
Tiernan. Manager, John M. Ward. 

Baltimore — Pitchers, Gleason, Esper, Hemming, Hawke; catcher, 
Robinson; basemen, Brouthers, Reitz, McGraw; shortstop, Jennings; 
fielders, Kelley, Brodie, Keeler, Bonner. Manager, Ed Hanlon. 

The net receipts, after paying expenses, were a little over $18,000, 
divided 65 per cent, to the victors and 35 per cent, to the losers. 

THE 1895 SERIES. 

Between the Baltimore (champion) and Cleveland (second place) 
teams, of the National League, for the Temple Cup. Results: 

October 2 — Cleveland vs. Baltimore, at Cleveland 5-4 

October 3 — Cleveland vs. Baltimore, at Cleveland 7-2 

October 5 — Cleveland vs. Baltimore, at Cleveland 7-1 

October 7 — Baltimore vs. Cleveland, at Baltimore 5-0 

October 8 — Cleveland vs. Baltimore, at Cleveland 5-2 

Victories — Cleveland, 4; Baltimore, 1. 

THE PLAYERS. 

Cleveland — Pitchers, Young, Cuppy; catcher, Zimmer; basemen, 
Tebeau, Childs, McGarr; shortstop, McKean; fielders, Burkett, Blake,. 
McAleer. Manager, Oliver Tebeau. 

Baltimore — Pitchers, Hoffer, McMahon, Esper; catchers, Robinson, 
Clarke; basemen, Carey, Gleason, McGraw; shortstop, Jennings; field- 
ers, Kelley, Brodie, Keeler. Manager, Ed Hanlon. 

The net receipts for the series were $14,752. ' ^ 

THE 1896 SERIES. 

Between the Baltimore (champion) and Cleveland (second place) 
teams, of the National League, for the Temple Cup. Results: 

October 2 — Baltimore vs. Cleveland, at Baltimore 7-1 

October 3 — Baltimore vs. Cleveland, at Baltimore 7-2 

October 5 — Baltimore vs. Cleveland, at Baltimore 6-2 

October 8 — Baltimore vs. Cleveland, at Cleveland 5-0 

Victories — Baltimore, 4. 



148 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

THE PLAYERS. 

Baltimore — Pitchers, Corbett, Esper, Pond, McMahon, Hemming, 
Hoffer; catchers, Robinson, Clarke; basemen, Doyle, Reitz, McGraw; 
shortstop, Jennings; fielders, Kelley, Brodie, Keeler, Donnelly. Man- 
ager, Ed Hanlon. 

Cleveland — Pitchers, Chamberlain, Young, Cuppy, Wallace; 
catcher, Zimmer; basemen, Tebeau, Childs, McGarr; shortstop, Mc- 
Kean; fielders, Burkett, McAleer, Blake. Manager, Oliver Tebeau. 

The Baltimore players realized about $200 per man, while Cleve- 
land got about $117 per man. 

THE 1897 SERIES. 

Between the Boston (champion) and Baltimore (second place) 
teams, of the National League, for the Temple Cup. Results: 

October 4 — Boston vs. Baltimore, at Boston 13-12 

October 5 — Baltimore vs. Boston, at Boston 13-11 

October 6 — Baltimore vs. Boston, at Boston 8-3 

October 9 — Baltimore vs. Boston, at Baltimore 12-11 

October 11 — Baltimore vs. Boston, at Baltimore 9-3 

Victories — Baltimore, 4; Boston, 1. 

THE PLAYERS. 

Baltimore — ^Pitchers, Nops, Corbett, Hoffer; catchers, Robinson, 
Bowerman; basemen, Doyle, Reitz, McGraw; shortstop, Jennings; 
fielders, Kelley, Stenzel, Keeler. Manager, Ed Hanlon. 

Boston — Pitchers, Klobedanz, Nichols, Hickman, Stivetts; catch- 
ers, Bergen, Ganzel; basemen, Tenney, Lowe, Collins; shortstop. Long; 
fielders, DufCy, Hamilton, Stahl. Manager, Frank Selee. 

THE 1903 SERIES. 

Between the Pittsburgh Club, of the National League and the Bos- 
ton Club, of the American League. Results: 

Score. Attendaoace, 

October 1— Pittsburgh vs. Boston, at Boston 7-3 16,242 

October 2 — Boston vs. Pittsburgh, at Boston 3-0 9,415 

October 3— Pittsburgh vs. Boston, at Boston 4-2 18,801 

October 6 — Pittsburgh vs. Boston, at Pittsburgh 5-4 7,600 

October 7— Boston vs. Pittsburgh, at Boston 11-2 12,322 

October 8— Boston vs. Pittsburgh, at Pittsburgh 6-3 11,556 

October 10— Boston vs. Pittsburgh, at Pittsburgh 7-3 ^''' 17,038 

October 13 — Boston vs. Pittsburgh, at Boston 3-0 7,455 

t , : — 

' Total 100,429 

Victories — Boston, 5; Pittsburgh, 3. 

The receipts netted over $50,000. The Boston players received 
$1,182 each, the Boston Club $6,699.56. The Pittsburgh players, though 
defeated, fared better, as President Dreyfuss gave them his share, 
each player receiving $1,316.27, in addition to their salaries in full to 
October 15. 



Leaders of the Teams That Won World's Series 
Under National Commission Auspices 

1 — James J. Collins, manager Boston American League Club in 1903. 
2 — John J. McGraw, manager New York National League Club in 1905. 
'3 — Fielder Jones, manager Chicago American League Club in 1906. 4 — 
Frank Chance, manager Chicago National League Club in 1907-1908. 5 — 
Fred Clarke, manager of Pittsburgh National League Club in 1909. 6 — 
Connie Mack, manager of the Athletic American League team in 1910-11- 
13. 7 — J. Garland Stahl, manager Boston American League team in 
1912. 



Worud's Champions I49 

THE PLAYERS. 

Boston — Pitchers, Young, Dineen, Hughes; catchers, Criger, Far- 
rell; basemen, Lachance, Ferris, Collins; shortstop. Parent; fielders, 
Dougherty, Stahl, Freeman. Manager, James J. Collins. 

Pittsburgh — Pitchers, Phillippi, Leever, Vail, Kennedy, Thomp- 
son; catchers, Phelps, Smith; basemen, Bransfield, Ritchey, Leach; 
shortstop, Wagner; fielders, Clarke, Beaumont, Sebring. Manager, 
Fred Clarke. 

THE 1904 DEFAULT. 

In this season the New York Club won the championship of the 
National League, and the Boston Club again captured the American 
League pennant. At the conclusion of the season the Boston Club, as 
usual, challenged the New York Club to a World's Championship 
Series. The New York Club, for various reasons, refused to play with 
the Boston Club, and the latter retained the World's Championship 
title by default. The two champion teams this year were manned as 
follows: 

THE PLAYERS. 

Boston — Pitchers, Young, Dineen, Gibson, Tannehill, Winter; 
catchers, Criger, Farrell, Doran; basemen, Lachance, Ferris, Collins; 
shortstop, Parent; fielders, Selbach, Stahl, Freeman. Manager, James 
J. Collins. 

New York — Pitchers, McGinnity, Mathewson, Ames, Elliott, G. 
Wiltse, L. Taylor; catchers, Bresnahan, Marshall, Warner; basemen, 
McGann, Gilbert, Devlin; shortstop, Dahlen; substitute, Dunn; fielders, 
Bresnahan, Miller, Donlin, Browne. Manager, John J. McGraw. 

THE 1905 SERIES. 

Played for the first time under the auspices of the National Com- 
mission, between the New York Club, of the National League, and the 
Philadelphia (Athletics) Club, of the American League. Results: 

"' '*^ Score. Attendance. Receipts. 

October 9 — New York vs. Philadelphia, at 

Philadelphia 3-0 17,955 $12,736 

October 10 — ^Philadelphia vs. New York, at 

New York 3-0 24,992 18,988 

October 12 — New York vs. Philadelphia, at 

Philadelphia 9-0 10,991 8,348 

October 13 — New York vs. Philadelphia, at 

New York 1-0 13,598 10,689 

October 14 — ^New York vs. Philadelphia, at 

New York 2-0 24,187 17,674 

Total 91,723 $68,435 

Victories — New York, 4; Philadelphia, 1. 

The players' share of the four games was $27,434.88. The division 
of receipts therefore netted each New York player $1,142, and each 



150 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Athletic player $383. The latter were given the Athletic Club's share 
of the receipts, bringing their share up to a little over $800 per man. 

THE PLAYERS. 

New York — Pitchers, Mathewson, McGinnity, Ames; catcher, Bres- 
nahan; basemen, McGann, Gilbert, Devlin; shortstop, Dahlen; fielders, 
Mertes, Donlin, Browne. Manager, John J. McGraw. 

Athletics — Pitchers, Plank, Bender, Coakley; catchers, Schrecken- 
gost. Powers; basemen, Davis, Murphy, Lave Cross; shortstop, Monte 
Cross; fielders, Hartsel, Lord, Seybold. Manager, Connie Mack. 

THE 1906 SERIES. 

Between the Chicago Club, of the National League, and the Chicago 
Club, of the American League. Results: 

Score. Attendance. BecolDte 

October 9 — Americans vs. Nationals, at West 

Side 2-1 12,693 $13,910.00 

October 10 — Nationals vs. Americans, at South 

Side 7-1 12,595 13,800.00 

October 11 — ^Americans vs. Nationals, at West 

Side 3-0 13,667 14,056.50 

October 12 — Nationals vs. Americans, at South 

Side 1-0 18,384 19,989.50 

October 13 — Americans vs. Nationals, at West 

Side 8-6 23,257 23,834.00 

October 14— Americans vs. Nationals, at South 

Side 8-3 19,249 20,861.00 



Totals 99,845 $106,550.00 

Victories — Chicago Americans (White Sox), 4; Chicago Nationals 
(Cubs), 2. 

Players' share, $33,407.70; club owners' share, $44,695; National 
Commission, $10,655. 

THE PLAYERS. 

Chicago Americans — Pitchers, White, Owen, Walsh, Altrock; 
catcher, Sullivan; basemen, Donohue, Isbell, Rohe; shortstops, Tanne- 
hill, Davis; fielders, Dougherty, Jones, Hahn. Manager, Fielder Jones. 

Chicago Nationals — Pitchers, Brown, Reulbach, Pfiester, Overall; 
catcher, Kling; basemen. Chance, Evers, Steinfeldt; shortstop. Tinker; 
fielders, Sheckard, Hofman, Slagle, Schulte. Manager, Frank L. Chance. 

THE 1907 SERIES. 

Between the Chicago Club, of the National League, and the Detroit 
Club, of the American League. Results: 

Score. Attendance. Receipts. 

October 8 — Chicago vs. Detroit, at Chicago 

(11 innings) 3-3 24,377 $29,162.50 

October 9— Chicago vs. Detroit, at Chicago.. 3-1 21,901 26,430.50 

October 10— Chicago vs. Detroit, at Chicago. . 5-1 13,114 16,212.50 

October 11— Chicago vs. Detroit, at Detroit... 6-1 11,306 17,285.50 

October 12— Chicago vs. Detroit, at Detroit... 2-0 7,370 12,638.00 



Totals 78,068 $101,728.50 

Victories — Chicago, 4; tie game, 1. 



World's Champions 151 

Players' share, $54,933.39; club owners' share, $36,622.26; National 
Commission, $10,172.85. The Chicago players received 60 per cent., 
which, with check of President Murphy, netted them $45,000. The 
Detroit players received 40 per cent. President Yawkey added $15,000, 
giving them a total of $30,973.36. 

THE PLAYERS. 

Chicago — Pitchers, Brown, Reulbach, Overall, Pfiester; catchers, 
Kling, Moran; basemen, Chance, Howard, Evers, Steinfeldt; shortstop. 
Tinker; fielders, Sheckard, Sfagle, Schulte. Manager, Frank L. Chance. 

Detroit — Pitchers, Killian, Mullin, Donovan, Siever; catchers, 
Schmidt, Payne, Archer; basemen, Rossman, Schaefer, Coughlin; short- 
stop, O'Leary; fielders, D. Jones, Crawford, Cobb. Manager, Hugh 
Jennings. 

THE 1908 SERIES. 

Between the Chicago Club, of the National League, and the 
Detroit Club, of the American League. Results: 

Score. Attendance. Receipts 

October 10— Chicago vs. Detroit, at Detroit... 10-6 10,827 $16,172.00 

October 11— Chicago vs. Detroit, at Chicago.. 6-1 17,543 26,927.00 

October 12— Detroit vs. Chicago, at Chicago.. 8-3 14,543 27,767.00 

October 13— Chicago vs. Detroit, at Detroit... 3-0 12,907 19,231.00 

October 14— Chicago vs. Detroit, at Detroit... 2-0 6,210 9,577.50 



Totals 62,030 $99,674.50 

Victories — Chicago, 4; Detroit, 1. 

Players' share, $62,232; club owners' share, $19,681; National Com- 
mission's share, $9,491. 

THE PLAYERS. 

Chicago — Pitchers, Overall, Pfiester, Brown and Reulbach; catchers, 
Kling, Moran; infielders, Chance, Evers, Tinker, Steinfeldt; outfielders, 
Hofman, Sheckard, Schulte; substitute, Howard. Manager, Frank L. 
Chance. 

Detroit — Pitchers, Summers, Donovan, Mullin, Killian and Win- 
ter; catchers, Schmidt and I. Thomas; infielders, Rossman, Downs, 
Schaefer, O'Leary and Coughlin; outfielders, Mclntyre, Crawford and 
Cobb; substitute, D. Jones. Manager, Hugh Jennings. 
THE 1909 SERIES. 

Between the Pittsburgh Club, of the National League, and the 
Detroit Club, of the American League. Results: 

Score. Attendance. Eeceipts. 

October 8 — Pittsburgh vs. Detroit, at Pitts- 
burgh 4-1 29,264 $40,271.50 

October 9 — Pittsburgh vs. Detroit, at Pitts- 
burgh 2-7 30,915 41,884.50 

October 11— Detroit vs. Pittsburgh, at Detroit, 6-8 18,277 20,676.00 

October 12— Detroit vs. Pittsburgh, at Detroit, 5-0 17,036 21,103.00 

October 13— Pittsburgh vs. Detroit, at Pitts- 
burgh 8-4 21,706 32,173.00 

October 14— Detroit vs. Pittsburgh, at Detroit, 5-4 10,535 12,517.50 

October 16— Detroit vs. Pittsburgh, at Detroit, 0-8 17,562 19,677.00 

Total 145,295 $188,302.50 

Victories — Pittsburgh, 4; Detroit, 3. 



152 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Players' share, $66,924.90; clubs' share, $102,547.35; National Com- 
mission's share, $18,830.25. The Pittsburgh players received $1,825.22 
each, and the Detroit players received $1,274.76 each. No bonus was 
paid to the players by either club, the National Commission having, 
by rule, forbidden a practice which had come to be an abuse. 

THE PLAYERS. 

Pittsburgh — ^Pitchers, Leever, Camnitz, Adams, Phillippi, Leifield, 
Willis, Maddox; catchers, Gibson, O'Connor, Simon; infielders, Abstein, 
Miller, Byrne, Wagner, Abbaticchio; outfielders, Clarke, Leach, Wilson, 
Hyatt. Manager, Fred Clarke. 

Detroit — Pitchers — Mullin, Works, Summers, Willett, Donovan, 
Killian; catchers, Schmidt, Stanage, Beckendorf; infielders, T. Jones, 
Delahanty, Schaefer, Bush, O'Leary, Moriarty, Killifer; outfielders, D. 
Jones, Mclntyre, Crawford, Cobb. Manager, Hugh Jennings. 

THE 1910 SERIES. 

Between the Chicago Club, of the National League, and the Ath- 
letic Club, of the American League. Results: 

Score, Attendance. Beceipts 

October 17 — ^Athletics vs. Chicago, at Phila- 
delphia 4-1 26,891 $37,424.50 

October 18 — Athletics vs. Chicago, at Phila- 
delphia 9-3 24,597 35,137.00 

October 20— Chicago vs. Athletics, at Chicago, 5-12 26,210 36,751.50 

October 22— Chicago vs. Athletics, at Chicago, 4-3 19,150 27,550.50 

October 23— Chicago vs. Athletics, at Chicago, 2-7 27,374 37,116.50 



Totals 124,222 $173,980.00 

Victories — ^Athletics, 4; Chicago, 1. 

Players' share, $79,071.93; clubs' share, $77,510.06; National Com- 
mission's share, $17,398.00. Bach Athletic player received $2,062.79; 
and each Chicago player received $1,375.16. 

THE PLAYERS. 

Chicago — Pitchers, Cole, Overall, M. Brown, Reulbach, Mclntire, 
Richie; catchers. Archer, Kling, Needham; infielders, Chance, Evers, 
Zimmerman, Tinker; outfielders, Sheckard, Schulte, Hofman. Manager, 
Frank Chance. 

Athletics — Pitchers, Coombs, Plank, Bender, Morgan, Krause; 
catchers, I. Thomas, Lapp, Livingston; infielders, Davis, Collins, Baker, 
Barry, Mclnnis, Houser; outfielders, Oldring, Lord, Strunk, D. Murphy, 
Hartsel. Manager, Connie Mack. 

THE 1911 SERIES 

Between the New York Club, of the National League, and the Ath- 
letic Club, of Philadelphia, of the American League. Results: 



World's Champions 153 

Scora Attendance. Receipts. 

October 14 — New York vs. Athletics, at New 

York 2-1 38,281 $77,359.00 

October 16 — Athletics vs. New York, at Phila- 
delphia 3-1 26,286 42,962.50 

October 17 — New York vs. Athletics, at New 

York 2-3 37,216 75,1593.00 

October 24 — Athletics vs. New York, at Phila- 
delphia 4-2 24,355 40,957.00 

October 25 — New York vs. Athletics, at New 

York 4-3 33,228 69,384.00 

October 26— Athletics vs. New York, at Phila- 
delphia 13-2 20,485 36,109.00 



Totals 179,851 $342,364.50 

Victories — ^Athletics, 4; New York, 2. 

Players' share, $127,910.61; clubs' share, $180,217.44; National Com- 
mission's share, $34,236.25. The Athletic players received $3,654.58 
each, and the New York players received $2,436.39 each. 

THE PLAYERS. 

Athletics — Pitchers, Coombs, Bender, Plank; catchers, I. Thomas, 
Lapp, Livingston; infielders, Davis, Mclnnis, Collins, Baker, Barry; 
outfielders, Oldring, Lord, Strunk. Connie Mack, Manager. 

New York — Pitchers, Mathewson, Marquard, Wiltse, Ames, Cran- 
dall; catchers, Myers, Wilson; infielders, Merkle, Doyle, Herzog, 
Fletcher; outfielders, Devore, Snodgrass, Murray. Manager, John J. 
McGraw. 

THE 1912 SERIES. 

Between the New York Club, of the National League, and the 
Boston Club, of the American League. Results: 

Score. Attendance. Receipts 

October 8 — New York vs. Boston, at New 

York 3-4 35,730 $75,127.00 

October 9 — Boston vs. New York, at Boston 

(11 innings) 6-6 30,148 55,369.00 

October 10— Boston vs. New York, at Boston, 1-2 34,624 63,142.00 
October 11 — New York vs. Boston, at New 

York 1-3 36,502 76,644.00 

October 12— Boston vs. New York, at Boston, 2-1 34,683 63,201.00 
October 14 — New York vs. Boston, at New 

York 5-2 30,622 66,654.00 

October 15— Boston vs. New York, at Boston, 4-11 32,694 57,196.00 
October 16 — Boston vs. New York, at Boston 

(10 innings) 3-2 17,034 30,500.00 



Totals 252,037 $490,833.00 

Victories — Boston, 4; New York, 3; one game tied. 
Players' share, $147,088.85; clubs' share, $295,143.40; National Com- 
mission's share, $49,083.60. The Boston players received $4022 each; 
and the New York players received $2,566 each. 



154 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

THE PLAYERS. 

Boston — Pitchers, Wood, Hall, Bedient, O'Brien, Collins; catchers, 
Oarrigan and Cady; InlSelders, Stahl, Yerkes, Gardner, Wagner, Bngle; 
outfielders, Lewis, Speaker, Hooper, Henriksen. Manager, J. G. Stahl. 

New York — Pitchers, Mathewson, Marquard, Tesreau, Ames, Cran- 
dall; catchers, Myers, Wilson; infielders, Merkle, Doyle, Herzog, Shafer, 
Fletcher; outfielders, Murray, Snodgrass, Devore. Manager, John J. 
McGraw. 

THE 1913 SERIES. 

Between the New York Club, of the National League, and the 
Athletic Club, of the American League. Results: 

Score. Attendance. Receipts. 

October 7 — New York vs. Athletics, at New 

York 4-6 36,291 $75,255.00 

October 8 — ^Athletics vs. New York, at Phila- 
delphia (10 innmgs) 0-3 20,563 49,640.00 

October 9 — New York vs. Athletics, at New 

York 2-8 36,896 75,763.50 

October 10 — ^Athletics vs. New York, at Phla- 

delphia 6-5 20,568 49,645.00 

October 11 — New York vs. Athletics, at New 

York 1-3 36,682 75,676.50 

Totals 151,000 $325,980.00 

Victories — Athletics, 4; New York, 1. 

Players' share of receipts, $135,264.19; clubs' share, $158,218.30; 
National Commission's share, $32,497.51. The Athletic players received 
$3,246.36 each; and the New York players received $2,164.22 each. 

THE PLAYERS. 

Athletics — Pitchers, Bender, Plank and Bush; catchers, Schang and 
Lapp; infielders, Mclnnis, E. Collins, Baker, Barry; outfielders, B. 
Murphy, Oldring and Strunk. Manager, Connie Mack. 

New York — Pitchers, Mathewson, Marquard, Tesreau, Demaree, 
Crandall; catchers, Myers, McLean, Wilson; infielders, Merkle, Wiltse, 
Doyle, Fletcher, Shafer, Herzog; outfielders. Burns, Snodgrass, Murray. 
Manager, John J. McGraw. 




James A. Williams 



Founder of the First Minor League in 1877, and 
Secretary of the Old Association 



THE MINOR LEAGUES 

a igational ^gisociation Cmtiracins OTfitfjin 3ts^ g>tielterms 
airms; ^U of tfje jWinor iteaguesJ ^cattereb ©ber Cfjfe l^asit 
Country; anb jForming fte ^artp of tlje ^econb ^art to 
tfje ^^rotettibe J^ational Agreement, iSoto in jForce. 



#^' 


"^.■■'*i«i' 



AVING now disposed of the major 
leagues to the satisfaction of our readers, 
we hope, we now come to consideration 
of those nurseries of professional Base 
Ball, the minor leagues, whose story was 
first told in Sporting Life some years 
ago, and is now given below in more com- 
plete form and with the addition of rec- 
ords, brought up to date. The minor leagues of this country 
have been great factors in the development and nationalization 
of Base Ball, yet they always had, until the last decade, a more 
or less precarious existence. Their federation in 1901 into the 
National Association of Professional Leagues materially 
changed and improved their status and gave them a standing and 
stability almost equal to that of the major leagues. As a matter 
of fact, the minor leagues today constitute the greater part of 
Base Ball by reason of the vast territory covered and the truly 
national character of their federation. 

THE FIRST MINOR LEAGUE. 

The minor leagues were slow in development. The "father" 
of the professional minor league system, under strict rules and 
regular schedule — as we now know it — was the famous "Jimmy" 
Williams, still living in Columbus, O. He conceived the idea of 
organizing a thoroughly professional minor league, and his idea 
was carried into execution at a meeting in Pittsburgh, February 
20, 1877, the call for which was signed by L. C. Waite, of St. 
Louis; H. D. McKnight, of Pittsburgh, and J. A. Williams. 
W. A. Cummings, of the Live Oaks, of Lynn, was president, 
and Williams, secretary, treasurer and executive officer. This 
was the first thoroughly organized league of that period outside 
the National League, and it lasted several years. It was called 
the International League and its membership in 1877 comprised 



156 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

the following clubs: Allegheny, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Buckeye, of 
Columbus, O. ; Live Oak, of Lynn, Mass. ; Manchester, of Man- 
chester, N. H. ; Maple Leaf, of Guelph, Ont. ; Rochester, of 
Rochester, N. Y. ; and Tecumseh, of London, Ont. The Tecum- 
sehs won the championship. "Jimmy" Williams' subsequent offi- 
cial and honorable connection with the American Association 
is a matter of history. In this year, also, there was started a 
small league in New England, and a union of small clubs in the 
West, called the "Western Base Ball Alliance ;" but the only real 
rival to the International League was the Western League, 
which was organized in 1879, by Ted Sullivan, and lasted two 
years. 

PROTECTION FOR MINORS. 

The base ball revival of the '80s, beginning with the suc- 
cessful organization of the American Association, brought sev- 
eral more minor leagues into action, the strongest of which was 
the Northwestern League of i88i-'82-'83. The adoption of the 
Tripartite Agreement, afterwards enlarged to the National 
Agreement, for the first time gave investors in minor league 
Base Ball opportunity for protection, and for several years minor 
leagues grew in number and strength. Their existence was still 
precarious, however, as their hold on players expired with each 
season. Sporting Life made a long and hard fight for the 
extension to all of the minor leagues of the reservation privilege, 
which was finally granted in 1888 by the National League and 
American Association after the jgublication of Editor Richter's 
Sporting Life "Millenium Plan" had suggested the reservation- 
and drafting system which has been in vogue ever since, respec- 
tively, 1888 and 1892. 

A NEW ERA. 

The new universal reservation system brought in its train 
the player-purchase practice and under this system the leading 
minor leagues managed to exist fairly well from 1888 to 1901, 
although the National Agreement protection of that period left 
much to be desired. In the Fall of 1901, with the National- 
American war at its height, the National League, deeming itself 
handicapped by protection of minor leagues, abrogated the 
National Agreement and left the minor leagues without support 




Leaders of the Early Days and Present Time in the 
Minor League Field 

1 — Ted Sullivan, of Dubuque, la., organizer of the Northwestern 
League in 1879. 2 — P. T. Powers, of New York, first president of the 
National Association. 3 — M. H. Sexton, of Rock Island, Ills., present 
president of the National Association. 4 — John H. Farrell, of Auburn, 
N. Y., secretary of the National Association since foundation in 1901. 
5 — Ed G. Barrow, of New York, president of International League, oldest 
minor league in existence. 6 — Thomas W. Chivington, of Chicago, presi- 
dent of the American Association, greatest minor league of the West. 7 — 
Norris L. O'Neill, of Chicago, Ills., president Western League, oldest minor 
league in the West. 8 — W^. M. Kavanaugh, president of the Southern 
Association, oldest minor league in the South. 



The Minor Leagues 157 

in any direction. Thrown upon their own resources the minors 
resolved to organize a federation of their own. In this matter 
Editor Richter, of Sporting Life, and President Sexton, of the 
Indiana-Illinois-Iowa League, took the initiative. At a meeting 
held in Chicago, September 5, 1901, the organization of 

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION 

for a ten-year term was effected by seven leagues. P. T. Powers, 
of New York, was elected president, and J. H. Farrell, of 
Auburn, N. Y., secretary, and a new National Agreement apply- 
ing solely to minor leagues was adopted. The reservation and 
draft systems, league classification and salary limits of the old 
major league agreement were amplified and incorporated in the 
new minor league agreement. At a meeting held in New York, 
October 24-25, 1901, the organization of the National Associa- 
tion was perfected and a National Board of Arbitration was 
elected. 

THE CHARTER MEMBERS 

of the organization were the Western League, Eastern League, 
Pacific Northwest League, I. L I. League, Western Association, 
New England League, New York League, Southern League, 
Connecticut League and California League. Within a month 
President Hickey, of the Western League, was expelled for 
organizing a new American Association in Western League ter- 
ritory. The American Association was conducted as an outlaw 
organization for two years and then admitted to the National 
Association. Upon the settlement of the National-American 
League war in 1903 the two major leagues formulated a new 
National Agreement which was so broad in scope and fair in 
terms that the National Association as a body willingly became 
a party thereto. 

THE TREMENDOUS GROWTH 

of the minor leagues under the auspices of the National Agree- 
ment and the aegis of their own National Association is strik- 
ingly illustrated by the bare statement that upon the threshold 
of the 191 3 base ball season there were in active existence 43 
leagues, embracing over 300 clubs, and employing over 5000 
players at a monthly expenditure of over $600,000 in salaries. 



158 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Herewith is given a list of these leagues as classified under the 
National Agreement: 

CLASS AA LEAGUES. 

International League — Providence, Jersey City, Newark, Balti- 
more, Rochester, Buffalo, Toronto and Montreal. 

American Association — Columbus, Indianapolis, Toledo, Louis- 
ville, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Kansas City. 

Pacific Coast League — San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Los 
Angeles, Portland, Venice. 

CLASS A LEAGUES. 

Western League — Omaha, Denver, Wichita, Topeka, Sioux City, 
St. Joseph, Des Moines, Lincoln. 

Southern League — ^Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis, Bir- 
mingham, Mobile, Montgomery, New Orleans. 

CLASS B LEAGUES. 

New York League — Utica, Wilkes-Barre, Elmira, Troy, Scranton, 
Albany, Syracuse, Binghamton. 

Eastern Association — New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport, Holyoke, 
Springfield, Pittsfield, Waterbury, New London. 

New England League — Worcester, Lowell, Lawrence, Fall River, 
Portland, New Bedford, Brockton, Lynn. 

Texas League — Austin, Beaumont, Dallas, Fort Worth, Galveston, 
Houston, San Antonio, Waco. 

Northwestern League — Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Portland, Van- 
couver, Victoria. 

Tri-State League — ^Allentown, Wilmington, Trenton, Harrisburg, 
Atlantic City, York. 

Indiana-Illinois-Iowa League — Peoria, Springfield, Quincy, Deca- 
tur, Danville, Davenport, Bloomington, Dubuque. 

Central League — Dayton, Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids, Evansville, 
Springfield, Terre Haute. 

CLASS C LEAGUES. 

South Atlantic League — Albany, Ga.; Charleston, Macon, Jackson- 
ville, Savannah, Columbus. 

Virginia League — Roanoke, Petersburg, Richmond, Newport News, 
Portsmouth, Norfolk. 

Western Tri-State League — North Yakima, Wash.; Walla Walla, 
Wash.; Pendleton, Ore.; La Grande, Ore.; Baker, Ore.; Boise, Idaho. 

South Michigan League — Adrian, Lansing, Battle Creek, Flint, 
Jackson, Kalamazoo, Saginaw, Bay City. 

Canadian League — Berlin, Hamilton, London, Brantford, Guelph, 
St. Thomas, Ottawa, Peterboro. 

Wisconsin-Illinois League — Appleton, Wausau, Rockford, Racine, 
Madison, Oshkosh, Green Bay, Milwaukee. 

Northern League — St. Paul, Minneapolis, Virginia, Duluth, Winni- 
V peg, Grand Forks, Superior, Winona. 



The Minor Leagues 



159 



CLASS D LEAGUES. 



Union Association. 
The Ohio State League. 
North Carolina League. 
Illinois-Missouri League. 
"Kitty" League. 
Texas-Oklahoma League. 
Cotton States League. 
Western Canada League. 
Kansas State League. 
Georgia Empire League. 
New York-New Jersey League. 
Michigan State League. 



Central Association. 

The Nebraska League. 

New Brunswick-Maine League. 

Appalachian League. 

The Border League. 

California State League. 

The Interstate League. 

South California League. 

Alabama-Georgia League. 

Empire State League. 

The Mink League. 



The above leagues comprise the National Association, sub- 
scriber to the National Agreement as party of the second part, 
the National League and American League, jointly, as party of 
the first part. Mr. Michael H. Sexton, of Rock Island, 111., has 
been president of the National Association since 1909, succeed- 
ing P. T. Powers, of New York, resigned. Mr. John H. Farrell, 
of Auburn, N. Y., is secretary-treasurer, a position he has held 
continuously since the organization of the National Association 
in 1901. 

MANY world's RECORDS. 

are held by minor league clubs and players, thus attesting the 
importance of the minor leagues to base ball not only as pre- 
paratory schools for the major leagues, but as capable, self- 
sustaining base ball institutions. Here are some of the world's 
records held solely by minor leaguers: 

Best Individual Strike-Out Record— Pitcher William Mitchell, of 
San Antonio (Texas League); pitcher Frank Davis, of Knoxville (Appa- 
lachian League); pitcher Fred Applegate, of Paris (Blue Grass League); 
each struck out 20 batsmen in a nine-inning game, respectively, in 
1909, 1912, 1912. 

Best Extra-Innings Strike-Out Record — Pitcher George Pearce, o'f 
Scranton (New York League), struck out 15 Wilkes-Barre batsmen in 
the first nine innings and 22 men in the entire game of 13 innings, 1912. 

Longest Run of Consecutive Victories — The Corsicana team, of the 
Texas League, in 1902, won 27 consecutive games. Same year the 
Charlotte team, of the Carolina Association, won 25 consecutive games. 
In 1912 the Wilkes-Barre team, of the New York League, won 25 con- 
secutive games. 

Best Pitcher's Winning Record — In 1904 pitcher Baxter Sparks, of 
the Yazoo, Miss., Club, of the Delta League, pitched 33 games, of which 
he won 21 in succession. 

Best Season Strike-Out Record — In 1910, pitcher Vean Gregg, of 
the Portland Club, of the Pacific Coast League, struck out 367 men in 



i6o Richter's History and. Records of Base Ball 

395 innings, an average of 8.34 strike-outs per game for 44 full games 
pitched. 

Best Modern Base Stealing Records — In 1912, outfielder Ralph 
Meyers, of the Spokane (Northwestern League) Club, stole 116 bases 
in 159 games. In 1913, outfielder James Johnston, of San Francisco, 
stole 124 bases in 201 games. 

Best No-Hit Pitching Records — In 1912, pitcher Grrover Brandt, of 
Beaumont (Texas League), disposed of the Fort Worth Club, 4-1, with- 
out a safe hit in 12 innings. Same year, pitcher Wormwood, of Fall 
River (New England League), disposed of Worcester in a tie 2-2 game 
of 12 innings, without a safe hit. 

Longest Professional Game — At Bloomington, 111., May 81, 1909, 
in the 1. 1. 1. League, Bloomington and Decatur played 26 innings, 
Decatur winning, 2-1. 

Second Longest Professional Game — At Devil's Lake, July 18, 
1891, Grand Forks and Fargo played 25 innings without a run being 
scored by either team. 

Modern Home-Run Record — In 1903, in the Texas League, the 
Paris team, in a game with Corsicana, made nine home runs. Before this, 
however, in 1895 in the Western League, Minneapolis had achieved the same 
feat against Kansas City. 

Base on Balls Record — In the Carolina Association, on May 19, 1911, 
outfielder Woodson, of Charlotte, drew six bases on balls in as many trips to 
the plate in a nine-inning game off pitchers Coombs and Clark, of the Ander- 
son team. 

Individual Home-Run Record — In 1895, first baseman Perry Werden, 
of the Minneapolis, Western League, Club, made 45 home runs. In 1901, 
catcher Roth, of the Evansville, Central League, Club, made 36 home runs. 
In 1895, outfielder Bottenus, of Rochester, made four home runs in one 
game. In 1913, catcher Jackley, of Iron ton (Ohio State League), made 
four home runs in a game against Hamilton. 

Shortest Game Record — In the Southern League, on September 19, 
1910, at Atlanta, Ga., Atlanta and Mobile played a full nine-inning game in 
32 minutes. In the same league and on the same day, at Nashville, the 
Nashville and New Orleans teams played a nine-inning game in 42 minutes. 

Double- Header Record — In the Pacific Coast League, July 30, 1905, the 
Los Angeles and Oakland teams played a double-header — each game of nine 
innings — in one hour and 38 1-2 minutes. The first game was played in 
47 1-2 minutes ; the second in 51 minutes. 

Pitchers' Shut-Out Record — In 1903, pitcher Oliver Faulkner, of the 
Wilmington, Del., Club, shut out opposing teams for 77 consecutive innings. 

Longest Distance Throwing Record — Sheldon Lejeune, of the Evansville 
(Central League) Club, at Cincinnati, October 10, 1910, threw a standard 
ball under proper conditions, 426 feet 6 1-4 inches — thus surpassing the 
record of John Hatfield, of 400 feet 7 1-2 inches, made October 15, 1872, 
at Brooklyn. 

The above tells more eloquently than words the need and 
value of the National Association and the tremendous growth 
of Base Ball under the present proper and competent auspices 
of the supreme National Agreement, than which no better sys- 
tem of national government can be devised or even wished. 



PART II. 

3i&ecortis{ Csstablts^teb tn ^U Bepartmentsi of 
Sj^voitii^ional Pas(e Pall 



11 




Players Who Hold World's Records in Various 
Departments of the Game 



1 — John Wagner, Pittsburgh, holder of best record for consecutive 
batting. 2 — John Lobert, of Philadelphia, holder of record for circling the 
bases. 3 — Edward J. Delahanty, joint holder with Lowe of batting total 
for one game. 4 — Robert L. Lowe, joint holder with Delahanty of batting 
total for one game. 5 — Sheldon Ijejeune, holder of the world's record for 
long distance throwing. 6 — Harry D. Stovey, holder of the best season 
record for stolen bases. 7 — George Gibson, holder of record for catching 
most games in a 154-game season. 8 — Tyrus Cobb, holder of the record 
for safe hitting in 40 consecutive games. 




BASE BALL RECORDS 

Complete anb Correct ^resfentation oC ^U exceptional 
Club anb 3Jnbitiibual performances^ in Various; 2Separt= 
mentis of tfje (game, ^fticft 3|abe peen ^ccepteb as; ^utljen= 
tic 3Recorbs; Jf rom tlje €arlj> ©apsJ to ttje ^rej^ent Cime, 

ECORDS made in the practice of profes- 
sional Base Ball have always been a matter 
of public interest — and also of much con- 
troversy for the reason that many of them, 
especially those made in the early forma- 
tive period of the game, lacked authen- 
ticity. This was partly due to the many 
vicissitudes of the game up to the time, in 
the early '80s, when its organization assumed stability by reason 
of ever-increasing public interest and press support ; and partly 
owing to the fact that until this time there was much indifference 
to or neglect of the statistical side of the sport on part of expo- 
nents and chroniclers. Nevertheless, there are enough records, 
both of doubtful and attested authenticity, to make quite a 
respectable volume of statistics, which should find a permanent 
place in such a history of the game as is here presented. Hence, we 
give as complete and correct a list of Base Ball Records as it is 
possible to dig up out of the Base Ball archives of the four great 
periods of successive development of the sport into permanent 
form, namely: First, the formative period from 1871 to 1883; 
second, the developing period from 1883 to 1890; third, the recon- 
struction period from 1890 to 1901 ; fourth, the culminating period 
from 1901 to 1914. Many of these records are of no great 
value from the standpoint of comparison, owing to the frequent 
changes in conditions, rules and paraphernalia. But this applies 
principally to pitching and fielding records, and in only small 
degree to batting and base-running feats, as in the latter two 
departments natural skill and speed cannot well be aided by such 
accessories as distance or delivery rules, or protective implements. 
In presenting these Records we divide them into general, batting, 
fielding, running and pitching records, giving the last-named a 
special chapter owing to their multiplicity. We should add that 
many of the records enumerated below are also given in our chap- 
ter on the "Minor Leagues*." The General Records follow : 



164 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

LONGEST GAMES OF RECORD. 

The longest professional base ball game ever played was one of 26 
innings, between the Bloomington and Decatur teams, both of the Indiana- 
Illinois-Iowa League, at Bloomington, May 31, 1909. This unique contest 
was a pitchers' battle the entire 26 innings. In the final inning, Fisher, of 
Decatur, was hit by a pitched ball and Purtell scored him with a three- 
bagger. A protest was entered by Bloomington, on the ground that 
Fisher, who scored the winning run, should have advanced no further than 
third on Purtell's hit. Fisher was on first base when Purtell hit to right 
and ran to third base, Fisher scoring. The umpire called Purtell out for 
not touching second base. The home team, therefore, claimed that Pur- 
tell's hit was only a single and that the side was out when Purtell failed 
to touch second, two batters having been retired previously. The Bloom- 
ington and Decatur teams started at 2 o'clock to play a double-header, and 
the game lasted until after 7 o'clock. The fielding was excellent, consider- 
ing the length of the game and the fact that rain had put the grounds in 
bad shape. Burns for Decatur and Clarke for Bloomington pitched the 
entire game. Score : 
Bloomington. AB. B. B. p. A. E. 

Long, cf 10 1 1 10 

Keenan, 3b 8 12 4 1 

Cutshaw, 2b ... 9 1 7 3 1 
Melchoir, lb ... 10 2 28 1 

Nova's, rf 10 3 3 

Snyder, ss 9 2 10 7 

Irwin, If 9 4 

Langdon, c 9 3 13 3 

Clarke, p 8 110 

*McNamara ... 1 



Decatur. ab. r. b. p. a. e. 

Moore, 2b 9 8 4 1 

Ruby, If 9 1 6 

Barkwell, 3b ... 10 1 3 9 

Foster, lb 10 30 1 

Jenkins, rf 10 3 3 1 

Cote, cf 11 1 9 1 

Fisher, c 8 1 13 2 1 

Purtell, ss 9 2 6 10 

Burns, p 10 1 3 8 



Totals 86 2 11 78 35 3 

Totals 83 1 13 78 28 2 

Bloomington. 1000000000000000000000000 0—1 
Decatur .... 0010000000000000000000000 1—2 
Two-base hits — Snyder 2, Barkwell. Three-base hit — Keenan. Struck 
out by Clarke 11, Burns 6. First on balls — Off Clarke 7. Double plays — 
Purtell, Moore ; Burns, Fisher, Foster. Hit by pitcher — Keenan, Purtell, 
Barkwell, Fisher. Left on bases — Bloomington 11, Decatur 16. Stolen 
bases — Ruby, Moore, Jenkins 2, Keenan, Long. Sacrifice hits — Moore 2, 
Snyder, Clarke, Cutshaw. Passed ball — Langdon. Time — 4.30. Umpire — 
Clark. 

The complete standing records for extraordinarily long match games in 
the various departments of the base ball world are as follows : 

Longest amateur game — Brooklyn Athletic Club vs. East End All-Stars, 
30 innings; score, Brooklyn Athletic Club, 4; East End All-Stars, 1; 
played at Cleveland, O., July 4, 1907. 

Longest professional game — Bloomington vs. Decatur; 26 innings; 
score, Decatur 2 ; Bloomington, 1 ; played at Bloomington, Ills., May 31, 
1909. 

Second longest professional game — Grand Forks vs. Fargo ; 25 innings ; 
score, to 0; played at Devil's Lake, July 18, 1891. 

Longest mixed game — Manchester (Professional) vs. Harvard Col- 
lege ; 24 innings ; score, to ; played at Boston, Mass., May 11, 1877. 

Longest American League game — Boston vs. Athletics ; 24 innings ; 
Athletics, 4; Boston, 1; played at Boston, September 1, 1906. 

Longest National. League games — Cincinnati vs. Chicago ; 20 innings ; 
score, 7 to 7 ; played at Cincinnati, July 30, 1902. Philadelphia vs. Chicago, 
20 innings ; score, Chicago, 2 ; Philadelphia, 1 ; played at Philadelphia, 
August 24, 1905. 

Longest college game — Wesleyan College vs. Trinity Colljege of Hart- 
ford ; 19 innings ; score 2 to 2 ; played at Hartford, Conn., June 6, 1907. 

Longest scholastic game — Pierce School vs. Bennett School ; 28 innings ; 
Pierce School, 4; Bennett School, 3; played at Boston, June 8, 1907. 

Longest independent game — Empire Club vs. Empals Club ; 28 innings ; 
score, Empire, 3 ; Empals, 1 ; played at South Bethlehem, Pa., June 10, 
1907. 



Base Ball Records 165 

WORLD'S RECORDS FOR TIME OF GAME. 

During the 1910 season, in one day, the record for speed in playing a 
regulation nine-inning game was twice broken. This notable achievement 
went to the credit of the Southern League, which already held the speed 
record — 44 minutes, made by the Atlanta and Shreveport teams, at Atlanta, 
on September 24, 1904. To Atlanta again went the honor of a new speed 
record, as the latest record performance took place at Atlanta, Ga., on Sep- 
tember 19, 1910, on the last day of the Southern League championship sea- 
son, when the Atlanta and Mobile teams played a full game in the wonder- 
ful time of 32 minutes. This amazing record was made possible by the 
two teams going on the field and coming to bat on the run. Invariably the 
first ball delivered to each batter was struck at, and usually hit, without any 
effort to "place" it. Thirty-five assists in the field tell the story. But one 
base on balls was recorded and only one strike-out. There were four stolen 
bases, one sacrifice hit, one wild pitch, three two-baggers, one three-bagger, 
one triple play and one double play. Following is the score of this record 
game : 
Mobile. AB. E. B. p. A. E. Atlanta. ab. r. b. p. a. e. 

Seitz, 2b 4 1 2 1 6 Bayless, cf 4 1 1 5 

Berger, ss 4 2 4 Moran, If 4 1 

Murphy, If 4 1 1 10 Smith, c 3 1 

Swacina, lb . . . 4 17 1 Flaherty, rf 2 

Wagner, cf 4 3 4 Jordan, 2b 3 1 2 2 

Watson, rf 3 110 Lister, lb 3 2 15 

Alcock, 3b 3 4 Walker, 3b 3 1 1 3 

Shannon, c 3 2 10 Berkel, ss 3 2 3 

Chappelle, p ... 3 4 1 Griffin, p 3 05 

Totals 32 2 6 27 22 1 Totals 28 1 5 27 13 

Mobile 1 1—2 

Atlanta 1 0—1 

Two-base hits — Bayless, Wagner 2. Three-base hit — Seitz. Double play 
— Berger, Seitz, Swacina. Triple play — Watson, Swacina, Shannon. Struck 
out — By Griffin 1. First on balls — Off Chappelle 1. Sacrifice hit — Watson. 
Stolen bases — ^Murphy, Bayless, Flaherty, Lister. Time — 32 minutes. Um- 
pire — Hart. 

On the same day, namely, September 19, 1910, at Nashville, Tenn., the 
Nashville and New Orleans teams rushed through the game in 42 minutes, 
which would have been a world's record but for the Atlanta-Mobile perform- 
ance the same day, and is the second best record now on the books. The 
game was played without a moment's delay, and not a base on balls, stolen 
base or sacrifice hit was registered, Nashville winning by 6 to 3. Up to 
the time the Atlanta-Shreveport record of 44 minutes was made, in 1904, 
the record was held by the Dayton and Ironton teams, which played a game 
in 47 minutes at Dayton, O., on September 19, 1884. A contest between 
Oakland and San Francisco, at San Francisco, November 9, 1893, was 
played in the same length of time. Los Angeles and Oakland played a double- 
header in record time on July 30, 1905. The first game was played in 47% 
minutes and the second game in 51 minutes ; total for the two full games, 
1 hour and 38% minutes, less than the average time it usually takes to play 
one game. 

DISTANCE THROWING AND CIRCLING BASES. 

In Cincinnati, at the close of the 1910 base ball season, at a field meet, 
two new world's records were established. One was circling of the bases 
in 13 4-5 seconds by third baseman John Lobert, then of the Cincinnati 
team. The other was the feat of Sheldon Lejeune, of the Evansville, Ceji- 
tral League, Club, in throwing a regulation base ball under proper condi- 
tions 426 feet 6^ inches, thereby surpassing the record of John Hatfield 
by 25 feet 10% inches. Hatfield's throw, which stood as record for 38 
years, was made at Brooklyn, October 15, 1872, and was 400 feet 7% 
inches. The new record by Lejeune was made at a Field Day under the 
auspices of the Cincinnati Club, at the Cincinnati Ball Park, October 10, 
1910, and was a special contest on the program, between Lejeune and Eslar 



1 66 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Foudrea, O'f Springfield, 111. The field events were contested by Cincinnati 
and Pittsburgh Club players, and the results were as follows: 

Beating out a bunt — John Lobert and Ward Miller, both of Cincinnati, 
tied at 3 2-5 seconds and divided the prize money. 

Fungo hitting — Won by Rowan, of Cincinnati. Distance, 398 feet 6^ 
inches. 

Circling the bases — Campbell, of Pittsburgh, and Lobert, of Cincinnati, 
tied. Time, 14 seconds. In the run-off Lobert won by repeating the circuit 
in 13 4-5 seconds. 

Catchers' accurate throwing — Won by McLean, of Cincinnati, by mak- 
ing two bullseyes out of three throws. 

Pitchers' control contest — Won by Harry Gaspar, Cincinnati. Record, 
eight strikes out of 11 balls thrown. 

Outfielders' accurate throwing — Paskert, Cincinnati, and Wilson, Pitts- 
burgh, tied on two throws, Paskert winning on the third. 

100 yards dash — Won by Lobert, Cincinnati; Campbell, Pittsburgh, sec- 
ond ; and W. Miller, Cincinnati, third. J. Miller, Pittsburgh, also started. 
Time, 10 seconds. 

Experienced timers, who have been ofiiciating at Cincinnati amateur 
and professional meets for years, did the clocking and city surveyors did 
the surveying, so the new records cannot be questioned. In the 100-yard 
dashes and in the circling-the-bases contest the runners started from pistol 
reports. Prof. Alfred Brodbeck, physical director of Cincinnati University, 
did the pistol firing. Aside from a slight breeze, which just stirred the 
leaves on the trees, there was no wind blowing, so the performance went 
down in base ball record books as official. The officials were : Superintend- 
ent M. C. Longnecker, o-f the Cincinnati Gym, referee; Prof. Alfred Brod- 
beck, starter ; Morris H. Isaacs, clerk of the course ; Sam H. Straus, scorer ; 
Joe Andrews, Edward Brendamour and Edward Fox, timers ; J. W. Tarbell 
and Amos Foster, judges; Fred Clarke, Glark Griffith and Arthur Bender, 
, inspectors ; Lee Lucas and O. F. Merpal, measurers. 

In addition to the long-standing record of John Hatfield, which as 

above described, was surpassed by Sheldon Lejeune, two other long-distance 

throwing feats were claimed for the old-time pitcher, Ed. Crane, of the 

New Yorks, and infielder Hans Wagner, of Pittsburgh, but these feats were 

I never accepted as records, owing to lack of strict compliance with all of 

I the rules governing long-distance throwing for records. Crane's alleged 

throw was 135 yards, 1 foot % inch, at Cincinnati, October 12, 1884. 

Wagner's throw was 134 yards, 1 foot, 8 inches, made at Louisville, October 

, 16, 1898. Pitcher Twitchell, of St. Louis, at Macon, Ga., in 1893, threw a 

U ball 131 yards, 2 inches. 

The world's amateur record for long-distance throwing of a base ball 
by a female, held by Miss Bertha Burgett, of Elmira, N. Y. — 181 feet, made 
in 1902 — was broken at Iowa City, la., August 15, 1910, when Miss Ada 
Paintin threw a league ball 187 feet. The distance was measured by J. G. 
Griffith, coach of the Iowa football eleven. 

THE BASE STEALING RECORDS. 

Base running records in professional base ball have varied greatly in 
the two periods of pitching distance, namely the 50 feet distance from 1881 
to 1893; and the 60 feet 5 inches distance in vogue since 1893 to the pres- 
ent time. Under the old distance the runner had a slight advantage of the 
pitcher, got a better start than nowadays, and was not relieved of the neces- 
sity of advancing himself by the sacrifice bunt play which did not come 
into vogue until 1888. Consequently stolen bases were much more numerous 
in that period than they were after the lengthening of the pitching distance 
in 1893 and the installation in 1893 of the sacrifice hit as a factor through 
exemption of the batsman from a time at bat. Up to this period first base- 
man Harry Stovey, o'f the Athletics, of the old American Association, held 
the base running record with 156 stolen bases in 1888. After that period, 
until 1910, the individual base stealing records steadily became smaller, as 
will be seen by the appended major league records from 1890 to 1913. In 
that long stretch of time 100 or more bases were stolen only five times in 
a championship season by a major league player. In 1890 Stovey, of the 
Players' League, stole 1.36 bases ; and Hamilton, of the National League, 
stole 102 bases. In 1891 Hamilton stole 115 biases; and Brown, of the 



Base Ball Records 167 

American Association, stole 110 bases. In 1896 Lange, of Chicago, stole 
100 bases. From that time until 1912 no player in any league made a cen- 
tury of stolen bases. As a matter of timely interest, and to show the long 
period of base-stealing retrogression — which appears to be, happily, ending 
contemporaneously with the increase in batting produced by the new, and 
now standard, cork center ball — we have compiled the major league record 
of annual best base-stealing records for the past 23 years, which is appended : 

1890— Hamilton, Philadelphia, National League 102 

1890 — Stovey, Boston, Players' League 136 

1890 — Welch, Athletics, American Association 95 

1891 — Hamilton, Philadelphia, National League 115 

1891 — Brown, Boston, American Association 110 

1892 — Brown, Louisville, National League 75 

1893 — Ward, New York, National League 72 

1894 — Hamilton, Philadelphia, National League 99 

1895 — Hamilton, Philadelphia, National League 95 

1896 — Lange, Chicago, National League 100 

1897 — Lange, Chicago, National League 83 

1898 — Clarke, Louisville, National League 66 

1899 — Sheckard, Brooklyn, National League ' 76 

1900 — Barrett, Cincinnati, National League 46 

1901 — Hartsel, Chicago, National League 48 

1901 — Isbell, Chicago, American League «. 48 

1902 — Wagner, Pittsburgh, National Leagu6 43 

1902 — Hartsel, Athletics, American League 54 

1903 — Sheckard, Brooklyn ; Chance, Chicago, National League 67 

1903 — Bay, Cleveland, American League 46 

1904 — Wagner, Pittsburgh, National League 53 

1904 — Flick, Cleveland, American League 42 

1905 — Maloney, Cincinnati ; Devlin, New York, National League 59 

1905 — Hoffman, Athletics, American League 46 

1906 — Chance, Chicago, National League 57 

1906 — Flick, Cleveland ; Anderson, Washington, American League 39 

1907 — Wagner, Pittsburgh, National League 61 

1907 — Cobb, Detroit, American League 49 

1908 — Wagner, Pittsburgh, National League 53 

1908 — Dougherty, Chicago, American League 47 

1909 — Bescher, Cincinnati, National League 54 

1909 — Cobb, Detroit, American League 76 

1910 — Bescher, Cincinnati, National League 70 

1910 — Collins, Athletics, American League 81 

1911 — Bescher, Cincinnati, National League 80 

1911 — Cobb, Detroit, American League 83 

1912 — Bescher, Cincinnati, National League 66 

1912 — Milan, Washington, American League 88 

In the minor leagues during the decade from 1902 to 1913, inclusive, 
only a few players stole over 100 bases in one season. In 1910, outfielder 
W. H. Zimmerman, of the Utica (New York League) Club, stole 105 bases 
in 135 games. In 1912 outfielder Oliver Nicholson, of the Frankfort (Blue 
Grass League) Club, stole 111 bases in 123 games. In 1912, outfielder 
Ralph Meyers, of the Spokane (Northwestern League) Club, stole 116 bases 
in 159 games. In 1913, outfielder James Johnston, of the San Francisco 
(Pacific Coast League) Club, stole 124 bases in 201 games. On September 
11, 1912, second baseman Eddie Collins, of the Athletics (American League), 
made a record with six stolen bases on catcher Kocner, of Detroit, in addi- 
tion to making four safe hits off pitcher Lake. 

LONGEST RUNS OF CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES. 

Herewith are given the various standing records for runs of consecutive 
victories by clubs in various classes of leagues : 

World's Record — 27 straight victories, made by the Corsicana team, of 
the Texas League, in 1902. 

Next Best Record — 25 straight victories, made by the Charlotte team. 



1 68 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

of the Carolina Association, in 1902 ; and 25 straight, made by the Wilkes- 
Barre team, of the New York League, in 1912. 

National League Record — 20 straight victories, made by the Providence 
team, in 1884. 

American League Record — 19 straight victories, made by the Chicago 
team, in 1906. 

Other notable runs of consecutive victories were : By Jersey City, of the 
Eastern League, 24 straight, in 1903 ; by Austin, of the Texas League, 22 
straight, in 1911; and 18 straight by the New York Nationals, in 1905. 
The world's record for consecutive de*feats was 26, made by Louisville, of 
the old American Association, in 1889 ; in the National League, 23 by Pitts- 
burgh, in 1890 ; and in the American League, 20 by Boston, in 1910. 

UNASSISTED TRIPLE PLAYS. 

One of the rarest feats in base ball is a triple play by a player without 
the assistance of another player. In the history of organized ball there have 
been only ten such plays recorded. The first feat of that kind was executed 
by outfielder Paul Hines, of the Providence National League Club, away 
back in 1878, and the feat stood unequaled for 24 years — and as a matter of 
fact it has been equaled but once from that time to 1914 in major leagues. 
Following is the complete record of unassisted triple plays : 

Paul Hines, of Providence team, at Providence, R. L, in 1878. 
Harry O'Hagan, o.f Rochester team, at Jersey City, N. J., in 1902. 
Larry Schafly, of Portland team, at Portland, Ore., in 1904. 
Simeon Murch, of Manchester team, at New Bedford, Mass., in 1906. 
Neal Ball, of Cleveland team, at Cleveland, O., in 1909. 
Walter Carlisle, of Vernon team, at Los Angeles, Cal., in 1911. 
Harry Calvert, of Woodburn team, at Woodburn, Ore., in 1911. 
Roy Aiken, of Waco team, at Houston, Tex., in 1912. 
John Foreman, of Kankakee, at Kankakee, 111., in 1912. 
William Rapp, of Portland, at Oakland, Cal., in 1912. 

FIRST BASE NO PUT-OUT RECORDS. 

In the average ball game the first baseman has the most put-outs, and 
in this respect first baseman James Fields, of Pittsburgh, is believed to hold 
the record, he having 32 put-outs in a 16-ianing game with Cincinnati, on 
April 24, 1885. Reverse records of the smallest number of put-outs by a 
first baseman are comparatively rare. In the long history of Base Ball 
there have been only six games played in which a first baseman failed to 
secure a put-out in the entire game. The record is as follows: 

August 6, 1891 — McCauley, first baseman of the Washington American 
Association team, in a game with Columbus, O., Club. 

August 12, 1906 — Emerson, first baseman of the Monson, Mass., team, 
in a game with the Stamford, Conn., Club. 

May 23, 1906 — "Jiggs" Donohue, of the Chicago White Sox, in a game 
with the New York Americans. 

June 24, 1910 — First baseman Arthur Ho'fman, of the Chicago Nation* 
als, in a game with the Boston team. 

July 10, 1910 — First baseman John Connors, of the South Bend (Cen- 
tral League) Club, in a game with the Terre Haute Club. 

May 20, 1911 — First baseman William McGamwell, of the Haverhill 
(New England League) Club, in a game with the Worcester team. 

July 18, 1911 — First baseman Schincel, of the Hartford (Connecticut 
League) team, in a game with Bridgeport, did not have a put-out until the 
tenth inning, and only three in 11 innings. 

July 2, 1913— First baseman W. L. Pressley, of Roanoke (Virginia 
League) Club, in a game with Norfolk, had no put-outs and only one assist. 

ANCIENT RECORDS AND INCIDENTS. 

The late William H. Rankin, who was official scorer for the Mutual 
Club, of New York, as far back as 1868, and a rare statistician, is responsi- 
ble for the following records and incidents of the early days of Base Ball : 

Harry Wright, of the Cincinnati team, made seven home runs in a game 
with the Holt Club, at Newport, Ky., June 12, 1867. 



Base Ball Records 169 

Lip Pike, of the Philadelphia Athletics, made on July 16, 1866, six 
home runs — five in succession — against the Alerts of Philadelphia. 

The Eckford nine, o-f Brooklyn, N. Y., was the first base ball organiza- 
tion to go through a season without losing a single game. This it did in 1863. 

Charles J. Smith, of the once famous old Atlantics, of Brooklyn, N. Y., 
was the first professional player to retire while still in the zenith of his fame. 

The old Union Grounds, Brooklyn, N. Y., the first regularly enclosed 
ball field to which an admission fee was charged, were thrown open to the 
public on May 15, 1862. 

The Cincinnatis made 34 safe hits, with a total of 54 bases, and earned 
18 of the 27 runs scored against the Allegheny team on September 12, 1888, 
at Cincinnati, O. 

Nat Hicks used a glove without thumb or fingers on his left hand dur- 
ing the Summer of 1875, which is believed to be the first glove that was ever 
worn regularly by a catcher. 

The Northwestern Association was organized December 6, 1865, at 
Chicago, 111. At the first annual meeting held at Chicago, December 19 and 
20, 1866, 25 clubs were represented. 

Frank J. Fennelly, of the Atlantic City nine, made on May 25, 1882, 
six safe hits, with a total of 19 bases, in a game with the Keystone team, of 
Philadelphia, Pa. 

On July 11, 13 and 15, 1876, at St. Louis, the original St. Louis 
Browns shut out the Hart-ford team in three consecutive games by scores 
of 2 to 0, 3 to 0, and 2 to 0. 

John Lee Richmond, of the Worcester team, of the International League, 
shut out the Chicago team, of the National League, without a safe hit on 
June 2, 1879, at Worcester, Mass. 

Harvey Ross, of Brooklyn, and J. Van Horn, of New York, were the 
original makers of the base baU played with by the clubs in the pioneer days 
of the game, and they made remarkably good ones, at that. 

The largest number of runs ever made in a game was that credited to 
the Niagaras, of Buffalo, N. Y., of June 8, 1869, when they defeated a local 
nine called the Columbias, by the remarkable score of 209 to 10. 

Charley Bennett, while catching for the home team at Horner, Mich., 
to the pitching of Weidman, put out 23 — 20 being on strikes — and assisted at 
putting out the other four men — an unprecedented fielding -feat. 

The Olympic Club, of Philadelphia, was supposed to be the oldest town 
ball club in America. While the club was regularly organized in the Summer 
of 1833, the game had been played both in Philadelphia and Camden, N. J., 
for some years preceding that time. 

The opening of the first professional ball grounds in New York City — 
known as the Polo Grounds — occurred on September 29, 1880, when the 
Metropolitans and Nationals, o'f Washington, played the inaugural game. 

The first base ball rules committee was composed of Messrs. Duncan 
F. Curry, W. H. Tucker and W. R. Wheaton, and the rules formulated by 
them were adopted by the Knickerbocker Club, at a meeting held in New 
York City on September 23, 1845. 

During an artillery duel across the Rappahonnock River, in Virginia, 
in May, 1863, some of the soldiers were engaged in a game of ball just in 
the rear of the skirmishers, entirely heedless of the shrieking shells that went 
flying in all directions. 

About the longest base ball game on record was one played at Carroll- 
ton, Ky., during the Summer of 1868. It was started at 10 o'clock in the 
morning and called on account of darkness at 6 o'clock in the evening with 
only seven innings completed. 

At the annual meeting of the National Association of Base Ball Players, 
held in the Cooper Union, New York City, March 15, 1859, Rule 36 was 
amended to read : "That no party shall be competent to play in a match who 
receives compensation "for his services." 

The greatest number of home runs to a game that there is any rec- 
ord of was made by the Athletics, of Philadelphia, on May 9, 1866, while 
playing an amateur nine at New Castle, Del., the Athletics then being cred- 
ited with 19 clean home runs out of a total score of 131. 

The National League, which was organized at a meeting held at the 
old Grand Central Hotel, afterwards known at the Broadway Central, New 
York City, Wednesday, February 2, 1876, was the outcome of a bitter fight 



I/O Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

between the Chicago Club and the Philadelphia Athletics, over David W. 
Force, a famous shortstop of that day. 

The first instance on record of a game being purposely lost by collusion 
of the players happened September 28, 1865, when the Eckfords defeated 
the Mutuals by 28 to 11, to the great surprise of the spectators. Subsequent 
events, however, showed that the game was sold by three of the Mutual 
players. 

At a special meeting of the National League held at Buffalo, N. Y., 
September 30, 1879, an agreement was secretly signed that no player was 
to be engaged that any club wished to retain, and each club was thereby per- 
mitted to reserve five men for the season of 1880, said five men to be named 
at a specified time. 

The Winona Club introduced Base Ball, the New York game, in Phila- 
delphia on May 18, 1860, when two nines were 'formed from the members 
of the club, and were captained, respectively, by Messrs. Bomeisler and 
Boyce. The first regular match game was played by teams of the Winona 
and Equity Clubs on June 11, 1860, the former winning by 39 to 21. 

The Athletics, of Philadelphia, once played a junior nine of that city, 
who failed to score a run in the first eight innings. In the ninth they were 
allowed 27 outs. Sixteen were put out in succession, and when this remark- 
able inning was brought to a conclusion, the juniors had scored only three 
runs, and these were made on careless fielding by the Athletics. 

The first shutout game that we can find any record of is credited to the 
Excelsiors, of Brooklyn, who defeated a strong picked nine from the mem- 
bers of the St. George Cricket Club, including Harry Wright, catcher; T. S. 
Daken, pitcher, and A. H. Gibbes, B. and P. Robinson, Sadler and Bett, all 
strong base ball and cricket players, by a score of 25 to 0, on November 8, 
1860. 

Rapelye Boerum, while catching for the Atlantic nine, of Brooklyn, dur- 
ing the Summer of 1859, at the suggestion of Mr. William V. Babcock, 
president o'f the Atlantic Club, came up close behind the bat to prevent base 
stealing. This was the first time the experiment had ever been tried, and it 
proved so great a success that it was adopted by all the leading clubs in the 
vicinity of New York. 

The most one-sided contest between professional teams was the one 
played June 18, 1874, on the Union Grounds, Brooklyn — the anniversary, 
by the way, of Napoleon's famous defeat at Waterloo — when the Mutuals 
defeated Chicago by a score of 38 to 1. The Chicagos made only two safe 
hits, and were indebted to questionable decisions by the umpire for the only 
run they scored. 

On July 8, 1859, the Atlantic and Eckford Clubs, of Brooklyn, N. Y., 
played on the latter's grounds, the first of a series of games for the cham- 
pionship, the Atlantics winning by 25 to 15. The Eckfords won the second 
game played September 8, on the Atlantics' grounds by 22 to 16. The third 
and deciding game was played October 12, on the Eckford grounds, the Atlan- 
tics winning by 32 to 12. 

The famous old Athletic Club, of Philadelphia, was organized as a town 
ball club in May, 1859, but as soon as the superiority of Base Ball, then 
known as the "New York game," was seen, it was adopted and in June, 1860, 
the Athletics announced their preference for the new game. Their first regu- 
lar match game was played on October 4, 1860, when the Olympics defeated 
them by 19 to 18. 

While professionalism has existed in Base Ball from the early '50s, Mr. 
A. J. Reach, of the well-known sporting goods house of Philadelphia, the 
A. J. Reach Company, was the first player that there is any record of, to 
change his address for a stipulated sum. In June, 1864, he was offered a 
salary to play with the old Athletics, of Philadelphia, and he accepted it 
and moved from Brooklyn to Philadelphia, where he has ever since resided. 

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS. 

Herewith are given some ancient and modern records not covered in 
the above quoted list of records: 

Greatest number of championship games in one day — Three games, Sep- 
tember 1, 1890, Brooklyn vs. Pittsburgh ; scores, 10-9, 3-2, 8-4. 

In 1903 the Pittsburgh National League Club, from June 2 to June 9, 
inclusive, played and won six successive shut-out games (blanking New York 



Base Ball Records 171 

two games, Boston three games, Philadelphia one and a half games), thus 
blanking all opponents for 56 consecutive innings — an unprecedented 'feat. 

Second baseman Bob Addy, of the Rockford Club, in 1866, stole a base 
by sliding for the first time. 

James H. O'Rourke, veteran catcher and outfielder, now president of the 
Eastern Association (formerly Connecticut League), holds the record for 
length of continuous service. He started as a catcher with the Mansfield 
Club, of Middletown, Conn., in 1872, played in the major league for 20 years, 
and played in the Connecticut League, which he organized, until 1911, when 
he caught his last game for the Bridgeport team — of which his son was the 
shortstop. 

The Boston National League Club is the only club in the country which 
has been represented in organized ball continuously since 1870. It was a 
member of the first organization, the National Association of Professional 
Players from 1871 to 1875, and has been continuously represented in the 
National League from 1876 to 1914. 

Second baseman Joe Quinn has the record of having played on nine 
championship teams, namely, one year with the St. Louis Browns, five years 
with the Boston Nationals, and three years with the Baltimore Nationals. 

At Toronto, in 1901, Charles Campau, o»f the Rochester team, circled the 
bases in 14% seconds, winning a gold watch for his effort. Best record to 
that time was 14% seconds, made by Harry Berthong, at Washington, 
D. C, in 1868. World's record is 13 4-5 seconds, made by John Lobert, at 
Cincinnati, O., in 1910. 

In the Pacific Coast League in the latter part of season of 1910, Port- 
land shut out opponents for 89 innings consecutively. Gregg, Krapp, Steen, 
Seaton and Garrett were the Portland pitchers who made the record. This 
broke the record that had been made by Pittsburgh of 56 innings in 1903. 

In the major leagues the largest number of victories won is credited to 
the Chicago National Club, namely 116 in 1906. The largest number of 
defeats was sustained by Cleveland, namely, 134 in a 154-game schedule in 
1899. 

In the Southern League season of 1909, catcher Frank Owens, of Mem- 
phis, had 194 assists in 117 games, or nearly two men per game thrown out — 
believed to be a world's record. 

On July 4, 1878, the New Bedfords, under Frank Bancroft's manage- 
ment, and Hartfords, played three nine-inning games in three different cities 
— New Bedford, Taunton and Providence. The New Bedfords won all three 
games — 15 to 0, 3 to 1, and 18 to 3. 

In 1875 Boston won every game played on the home grounds, and lost 
only eight games in the entire season. 

In the National League the longest shut-out game was the Providence- 
Detroit 1-0 game of 18 innings, won by Providence, August 17, 1882. In 
the American League the longest runless game was the Washington-Detroit 
0-0 game of 17 innings, played September 21, 1901. 




Greatest Batters of Base Ball 



1 — Daniel Brouthers, ranking third in the National League's list of 
great batsmen. 2 — Adrian C. Anson, ranking second in the National 
League's list of great batsmen. 3 — John H. Wagner, the greatest batsman 
of Base Ball. 4 — Napoleon Lajoie, ranking first in list of great American 
League batsmen. 5 — Tyrus Cobb, ranking second in the list of great 
American League batsmen. 




BATTING- FIELDING 

pes^t tE^eam anb Snbibibual Patttng $er!ormancesi in tfie 
||i«tar|> of tfie (game ^mce tJje 3ns(tttutian of ©tgani^eb 
Jlall. tIClie 3Recarbsf in tfje jFielbing department. 

N the playing of the game, batting, fielding 
and pitching records have been highly 
prized by the players, much appreciated by 
lovers and students of the game, and 
greatly expatiated upon by the writers of 
the great sport. Particularly is this true 
of batting — inasmuch as batting is the fea- 
ture of the game that appeals most to the 
spectators, to the managers and to the players — to the fan 
because it makes for action and gratifies his love for the spec- 
tacular; the manager, because it is the prime factor in game 
winning; and to the player because it establishes his rank in the 
game, both in the matter of fame and of salary. It has been said, 
and said truly, that the average ball player would "rather make a 
base hit than eat." Under the conditions it is small wonder that 
the most reliable records we have are batting records; and that 
they are also the most-sought and most-cherished records. That 
being the case, this class of records deserves a special chapter in 
this History and Records of Base Ball, which is herewith 
accorded : 

SUPREME INDIVIDUAL BATTING RECORDS. 

In the records of Base Ball since its development to full professional 
status there have been many great batsmen, as will be seen by the list of 
batting leaders of the great major leagues, given elsewhere in this chapter, 
but the five greatest batsmen the National game has yet produced are John 
H. Wagner, of Pittsburgh ; Napoleon Lajoie, of Cleveland ; A. C. Anson, 
of Chicago ; Dan Brouthers, of New York ; and Tyrus Cobb, of Detroit. 
These men are justly entitled to the pre-eminence accorded them here, and 
by the entire base ball world, inasmuch as they maintained supremacy, not 
for a few years, but virtually throughout exceptionally long careers in 
Base Ball. In this matter one player, supremely great as fielder and base 
runner, as well as batsman, is the Pittsburgh player, who can justly sub- 
scribe himself 

JOHN WAGNEK, WORLD'S BATTING CHAMPION. 

With the close of the 1913 season, shortstop Wagner finished his seven- 
teenth consecutive year as a .300 batsman — a record not equaled by any 
other player, ancient or modern, in any league. To make Wagner's record 
even more impressive it should be stated that before entering the major 
league with Louisville, 1897, he led the Atlantic League in batting in 1896, 
he batting .379, as a member of the Paterson, N. J., Club. Counting this 



174 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

year, Wagner has batted .300 in 18 consecutive years ; but we give herewith 
only his major league record — three years with Louisville, and fourteen 
years with Pittsburgh — during which time he led the National League bats- 
men eight times, namely in 1900, '03, '04, '06, '07, '08, '09, '11 : 

YEAE. G. AB. B. H. SB. PCT. 

1897 61 241 38 83 22 .344 

1898 148 591 80 180 25 .305 

1899 144 549 102 197 36 .385 

1900 134 528 107 201 36 .380 

1901 141 556 100 i 196 48 .352 

1902 137 538 105/ 177 43 .329 

1903 129 512 J&r 182 46 .355 

1904 132 490 .r^7 171 55 .349 

1905 147 548 / 114 199 57 .363 

1906 140 516 103 175 53 339 

1907 142 515 98 180 61 .350 

1908 151 568 100 201 53 .354 

1909 137 495 92 168 35 .339 

1910 150 556 90 178 24 .320 

1911 139 473 87 158 20 .334 

1912 145 558 91 181 26 .324 

1913 114 413 51 124 21 .300 

2292 8619 1553 2953 661 .338 

John H. Wagner was born at Carnegie, Pa., February 24, 1874. He 

started his professional career with the Paterson Club, of the Atlantic 

League, in 1896; joined Louisville in 1897, played with that team three 

years, and thereafter continuously with Pittsburgh. 

A. G. ANSON'S WONDEEFUL BEOORD. 

Next to Wagner comes Adrian C. Anson, the former Chicago manager- 
first baseman, who held the world's record with 15 consecutive .300 years, 
until Wagner surpassed it in the 1912 season. Anson's complete National 
League record is herewith given: 

YEAE. G. AB. B. H. PCT. 

1876 66 264 51 98 .371 

1877 47 187 36 60 .321 

1878 59 251 38 83 .330 

1879 49 190 31 61 .321 

1880 84 358 61 132 .372 

1881 84 343 67 137 .399 

1882 82 348 67 126 .362 

1883 98 413 69 127 .308 

1884 Ill 471 108 159 .337 

1885 112 464 100 144 .310 

1886 125 504 117 187 .371 

1887 122 532 107 224 .421 

1888 134 515 101 177 .344 

1889 134 518 99 177 .342 

1890 139 504 102 157 .312 

1891 136 537 82 158 .294 

1892 147 561 62 154 .274 

1893 101 381 70 123 .323 

1894 83 347 87 137 .394 

1895 122 476 88 161 .338 

1896 106 403 72 135 .335 

1897 112 423 66 128 .303 

Totals 2253 8990 1682 3047 .331 

A. C. Anson was born at Marshalltown, la., in 1851 ; made his profes- 
sional debut with the Rockford, 111., Club in 1870 ; played with the Athletics, 
of Philadelphia, from 1870 to 1875; joined the Chicago team in 1876 and 
played with that team continuously until 1897. He then^^t^ed to devote 
himself to private business in Chicago. ''" 



Batting — Fielding 175 



GRAND BECORD OF BROUTHERS. 

Dan Brouthers, a gigantic first baseman, comes next with a record of 
fourteen consecutive years of .300 batting, during which he four times led 
his league in batting, namely in 1882, 1883, 1889 and 1891. Here is his 
complete .300 record: 

YEAR. G. AB. E. H. PCT. 

1881 65 270 60 86 .318 

1882 84 351 71 129 .367 

1883 97 420 83 156 .371 

1884 90 381 80 124 .325 

1885 98 407 87 146 .358 

1886 121 489 139 181 .370 

1887 122 570 153 239 .419 

1888 129 522 118 160 .306 

1889 126 485 105 181 .373 

1890 123 464 116 160 345 

1891 123 488 111 160 .349 

1892 152 552 121 197 .335 

1893 75 267 53 93 348 

1894 123 528 137 182 .344 

Totals 1528 6194 1434 2194 .354 

Brouthers was born at Sylvan Lake, N. Y., in 1858. He started as a 
pitcher in 1876 with the Active Club, of Wappinger's Falls, N. Y. His 
major league career began in 1881 with Buffalo, and he played with the 
Buffalo, Detroit, Brooklyn and Philadelphia Clubs, of the National League, 
and with the Boston Players' League and American Association Clubs. After 
14 years of consecutive .300 batting, he slipped up in 1895, came back the 
next year with .330, and then retired from the major league field. 

NAPOLEON LAJOIE'S GREAT RECORD. 

Second baseman Napoleon Lajoie, of the Cleveland American League 
Club, has the third best record for continuous high batting averages. Like 
Wagner, he was the only player of this day who had a chance to equal or 
pass Anson's long-standing record, but he lost his chance in 1907, when, 
after batting over .300 for 10 successive seasons, he dropped below the 
standard mark for two successive years. Lajoie's complete record in the 
National League from 1896 to 1901, and in the American League from 1901 
to 1913, inclusive, is as follows : 

YEAR. G. AB. R. H. PCT. 

1896 39 174 37 57 .328 

1897 126 545 108 198 .363 

1898 147 610 113 200 .328 

1899 72 308 70 117 .379 

1900 102 451 95 156 .346 

1901 131 543 145 220 .422 

1902 87 352 81 129 .366 

1903 126 488 90 173 .355 

1904 149 554 92 211 .381 

1905 65 244 29 82 .329 

1906 152 602 88 214 355 

1907 137 509 53 152 .299 

1908 157 581 77 168 .289 

1909 128 469 56 152 .324 

1910 159 591 92 227 .384 

1911 90 315 36 115 .365 

1912 117 448 66 165 .368 

1913 137 465 66 156 .335 

Totals 2112 8249 1393 2892 .351 

Lajoie is of French descent. He was born at Woonsocket, R. L, in 
1875, and started his professional career with the Fall River Club, of the 
New England League, in 1896. He played with the Philadelphia National 



176 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



League Club from Fall of 1896 to 1901; with the Athletic Club, of the 
American League in 1901; and with the Cleveland American League Club 
from 1902 to the present time. 

TYBUS OOBB'S wonderful RECORD. 

Outfielder Tyrus Cobb, of the Detroit Club, is the only batsman of this 
time with possibility of equaling or passing Wagner's world's record. 
He is a wonderful batsman in point of ability, but has not the physique to 
warrant hope that he will be able to stand the strain of major league play- 
ing as well as the four giants who now lead him in point of continuous 
service. So far as he has gone, however, he has excelled all of his com- 
petitors in one point. He has batted over .400 in two successive seasons ; 
and he has also led the batsmen of the American League seven times — 
which is glory enough for any batsman, having been excelled only by 
Wagner. Cobb's complete major league record is as follows : 

YEAR. 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 



G. 


AB. 


R. 


H. 


PCT. 


41 


150 


19 


36 


.240 


97 


350 


44 


112 


.320 


150 


605 


97 


212 


.350 


150 


581 


88 


188 


.324 


156 


573 


116 


216 


.377 


140 


509 


106 


196 


.385 


146 


591 


147 


248 


420 


140 


553 


119 


227 


.410 


122 


428 


70 


167 


.390 



Totals 1144 4340 806 1612 .371 

Cobb was born at Royston, Ga., in 1886. He started his professional 
career with the Augusta Club, of the South Atlantic League, in 1904. In 
the Fall of 1905 the Detroit Club purchased his release from the Augusta 
Club and he has played with the Detroit team from that date to the present 
time. 

OTHER FINE BATTING RECORDS. 

Apart from the great quintet above given, detailed records only show 
five players within the past 37 years who have batted .300 or better ten con- 
secutive years, namely: Willie Keeler, 13; Ed Delahanty and Joe.Kelley, 11 
each ; Hugh Duffy and Jesse Burkett, 10 years each. Of the present day star 
batsmen, Jackson, Collins, Speaker and others will hardly last long enough 
in the game, even if they are able to hit .300 every year, to reach Wagner's 
mark. 

MAJOR LEAGUE BATTING LEADERS 

Herewith is given an official list of the batting leaders of the major 
leagues from the foundation of the Professional Association in 1871, after 
which the playing rules, and particularly the pitching rules, became grad- 
ually crystalized into the virtually perfect code of the present day. Pitcher 
Al Maul, with .450, had the highest average ever made in the National 
League ; but he participated in only 16 games in the year he made that 
average, Anson, with .421 in 122 games^ being the real leader of 1887 ; 
hence Hugh Duffy's .438 is the real high mark for the National League. In 
the American Association, outfielder "Tip" O'Neil carried off the honors 
with .492, the highest average of record — but made in the year of the four- 
strike rule. Second baseman Napoleon Lajoie enjoys the distinction of 
having amassed the highest average in the American League, .422. The 
highest average in the first Professional Association was .403, made by ih- 
fielder Levi Meyerle. The complete record follows, only actual batting 
leaders, that is, men who participated in from 50 to 100 or more games, 
being given : 

NATIONAI. PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION. 
YEAR. NAME. CLUB. PCT. YEAR. NAME. CLUB. PCT. 

1871— L. Meyerle, Athletics 403 1874— J. McMullin, Athletics... .387 

1872— R. Barnes, Boston 374 1875— R. Barnes, Boston 386 

1873— R. Barnes, Boston 338 



Batting — Fielding 



177 



NATIONAL LEAGUE. 



YEAR. NAME. CLUB. 

1876 — R. Barnes, Chicago 

1877— J. L. White, Boston 

1878 — A. Dalrymple, Milwaukee, 
1879— A. C. Anson, Chicago... 

1880— G. Gore, Chicago 

1881— A. C. Anson, Chicago... 
1882— D. Brouthers, Buffalo... 
1883— D. Brouthers, Buffalo... 

1884— J. O'Rourke, Buffalo 

1885 — R. Connor, New York . . . 

1886— M. Kelly, Chicago 

1887— A. C. Anson, Chicago... 
1888— A. C. Anson, Chicago... 
1889— D. Brouthers, Boston... 
1890— J. Glasscock, New York 
1891— W. Hamilton, Philad'a. . 

1892— *C. Childs, Cleveland 

1892— *D. Brouthers, Brooklyn. 
1893— J. Stenzel, Pittsburgh... 
1894— H. Duffy, Boston 



PCT. 

.403 
.385 
.356 
.407 
.365 
.399 
.367 
.371 
.350 
.371 
.338 
.421 
.343 
.373 
.336 
.338 
.335 
.335 
.409 
438 



YEAR. NAME. CLUB. 

1895— J. Burkett, Cleveland 

1896— J. Burkett, Cleveland 

1897 — W. Keeler, Brooklyn 

1898 — W. Keeler, Brooklyn. 

1899— E. Delahanty, Philad'a.., 
1900— J. Wagner, Pittsburgh.., 

1901— J. Burkett, St. Louis 

1902— C. Beaumont, Pittsburgh, 
1903— J. Wagner, Pittsburgh.. 
1904 — J. Wagner, Pittsburgh . . 
1905 — J. Seymour, Cincinnati.. 
1906— J. Wagner, Pittsburgh.. 
1907— J. Wagner, Pittsburgh.. 
1908— J. Wagner, Pittsburgh.. 
1909— J. Wagner, Pittsburgh.. 

1910— S. Magee, Philad'a 

1911 — J. Wagner, Pittsburgh . . 
1912 — H. Zimmerman, Chicago. 
1913— J. Daubert, Brooklyn... 
*Tied. 



PCT. 

.423 
.410 
.432 
.379 
408 
.380 
.382 
.357 
.355 
.349 
.377 
.339 
.350 
.354 
.339 
.331 
.334 
.372 
.350 



AMERICAN ASSOCIATIiaN. 



YEAR. NAME. CLUB. PCT. 

1882— L. Browning, Louisville. .382 
1883— Thos. Mansell, St. Louis, .383 
1884— T. Esterbrook, Metropo'n, .408 
1885 — L. Browning, Louisville. .367 
1886— D. Orr, Metropolitan 346 



YEAR. NAME. CLUB. PCT. 

1887— J. E. O'Neil, St. Louis... .492 
1888— J. E. O'Neil, St. Louis. . . .332 

1889— T. Tucker, Baltimore 375 

1890— Jas. Wolf, Louisville 366 

1891— D. Brouthers, Boston 352 



AMERICAN LEAGUE. 



YEAR. NAME. CLUB. PCT. 

1900— J. Ganzel, Kansas City.. .391 

1901— N. Lajoie, Athletics 422 

1902— E. Delahanty, Washing'n, .376 
1903— N. Lajoie, Cleveland 355 



YEAR. NAME. CLUB. PCT. 

1907— T. Cobb, Detroit 350 

1908— T. Cobb, Detroit 324 

1909— T. Cobb, Detroit 377 

1910— T. Cobb, Detroit 385 



1904— N. Lajoie, Cleveland 381 1911— T. Cobb, Detroit 420 

1905— N. Lajoie, Cleveland 388 1912— T. Cobb, Detroit ;' .410 

1^6— G. Stone, St. Louis 358 1 1913— T. Cobb, Detroit 390 

INDIVIDUAL BATTING RECORDS. 

At Boston, May 30, 1894, second baseman Robert Lowe, of the Boston 
National League Club, made four home runs and a single off pitcher Cham- 
berlain, of Cincinnati. 

At Chicago, July 13, 1896, outfielder Ed Delahanty, of the Philadelphia 
National League Club, made four home runs and a single off pitchers Terry 
and Garvin, of Chicago. 

At Omaha, June 8, 1889, third baseman Jack Crooks, of the Omaha 
Western Association team, made four home runs and a single against the St. 
Paul Club and drove in 13 runs out of 19 made. 

At Binghamton, July 25, 1893, outfielder W. Bottenus, of the Spring- 
field Eastern League Club, made three home runs in two consecutive innings 
against the Binghamton Club. 

At Hamilton, Ohio, September 9, 1913, catcher Jackley, of Ironton, 
Ohio State League, made 'four home runs and a single off pitcher Nash, of 
Hamilton. 

At Buffalo, May 12, 1895, outfielder Billy Bottenus, of the Buffalo 
Eastern League Club, made four home runs and a double against the Wilkes- 
Barre Club. 

At St. Joseph, Mo., June 30, 1912, outfielder Zwilling, of St. Joseph, 
made, three home runs, and catcher Gossett, same team, two home runs 
against St. Joseph. 

In 1912, outfielder Tyrus Cobb, of the Detroit American League Club, 
made an American League record with 83 stolen bases, 149 runs, 247 safe 
hits and a run of safe hitting in 40 consecutive games. 

In the National League, at Pittsburgh, August 22, 1910, shortstop 
12 



178 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Wagner, of the Pittsburgh team, in a double-header, in seven times at bat, 
made seven hits, including two home runs, three doubles and two singles, a 
total of 16 bases. 

In the American League, at St. Louis, October 9, 1910, in a double- 
header between St. Louis and Cleveland, second baseman Lajoie, of Cleve- 
land, in eight times at bat made eight hits, including a triple and seven 
singles. 

In 1895 first baseman Perry Werden, of the Minneapolis Club, of 
the Western League, made 45 home runs in the season — the world's record! 

In 1901, catcher Frank Roth, of the Bvansville, Central League, Club, 
made 36 home runs — the second-best record. 

In 1899, first baseman John Freeman, of the Washington, National 
League, Club, made 25 home runs — the major league record. 

In 1888, in a game at Buffalo, between the Buffalo and Rochester 
teams, of the International League, Rochester made four home runs in one 
inning off pitcher Hart — shortstop Fred Miller getting two homers and 
infielder Henry Simon and "Sandy" Griffin one homer each. 

At Chicago, September 30, 1911, pitcher Ed Walsh, of the Chicago 
American League Club, made a world's record in a "fungo-hitting" contest 
by batting a fly ball 419 feet one-half inch — thus beating the record of 413 
feet 8% inches, made by outfielder Mike Mitchell, of Cincinnati, in 1907. 

On September 9, 1911, outfielder Patterson, of the Vernon (Pacific 
Coast League) team, made three home runs in the game. 

On June 2, 1912, outfielder Manning, of the Holyoke (Eastern Asso- 
ciation) team, made three home runs off three Bridgeport pitchers in three 
successive innings. 

TEAM BATTING RECORDS. 

The Philadelphia National League team, in 1894, in a game with Louis- 
j ville, at Louisville, made 36 safe hits off pitcher John Wadsworth — a major 

/ league record. 

/ The Chicago National League team, in the seventh inning of a game 

.' with Detroit, on September 6, 1883, made 18 hits and 18 runs in one inning, 

off pitchers Weidman and Burns, winning the game, 26-6 — a world's record. 

In 1894 Boston scored 16 runs in one inning against Baltimore. In 
1893, Louisville scored 14 runs in one inning against Cincinnati. In 1894 
Baltimore scored 14 runs in a ninth-inning rally against Boston. 

The Paris team, of the Texas League, on May 15, 1903, made nine 
home runs against Corsicana, player Bateman scoring four homers, player 
Wolf three homers, and players Coyle and Walsh one homer each. 

On June 29, 1897, at Chicago, the Chicago Nationals defeated Louis- 
ville, 36-7 ; and on August 2, 1883, the Providence Nationals defeated Phila- 
delphia, 28-0 — both world's records for modern base ball. 

In the South Atlantic League, Macon, on August 5, 1912, defeated 
Albany, 26-4, in a record-breaking game. Macon scored in every inning but 
one; made 31 hits off pitchers Filingin and McCay ; and stole 16 bases. 
Second baseman Pry sock got five hits in seven times up ; outfielder Cruise 
and first baseman Calhoun each got four hits in seven times up,, and third 
baseman Herold got four hits in five times up. Four men got three hits each 
and pitcher Vors got the least hits — two in six times at bat. 

At Richmond, Ky., on September 3, 1912, the Richmond and Frankfort 
teams, of the Blue Grass League, performed a wonderful — and probably 
unique — feat by finishing a game in which a total of 39 safe hits were made 
in 57 minutes. Richmond made 10 runs and 18 hits off pitcher Langfitt; 
and Frankfort made 7 runs and 21 hits off pitcher Cameron, of which out- 
fielder Nicholson and first baseman Gust each got four hits in five times up. 

In the Ohio-Pennsylvania League, in a double-header between Steuben- 
ville and Bast Liverpool, at Steubenville, on July 23, 1912, 12 home runs 
were made. In the first game East Liverpool batsmen made three homers 
and Steubenville one. In the second game East Liverpool batsmen got five 



Batting — Fielding 179 

homers, including two each by outfielder Mackert and first baseman Deedon, 
and Steubenville got three homers. In the first game pitcher Shipe, of East 
Liverpool, won, 5-2, by striking out 17 batsmen. 

At Chicago, August 3, 1911, the Brooklyn National League team de- 
feated Chicago, 5-3, three Brooklyn batsmen — outfielder Zimmerman, catcher 
Erwin and outfielder Wheat — making three home runs in succession in the 
fifth inning, two off pitcher Richie and one off pitcher Toney. 

In an exhibition game at Bay City, Mich., September 11, 1882, between 
the Bay City team and the Worcester team, of Worcester, Mass., Worcester 
made 47 hits, including seven home runs. Smith got eight hits, Stovey and 
Evans, six hits each ; Irwin, Hayes, Creamer and Mountain, five hits each. 

In the National League, in 1893, 65 batsmen batted for .300 or better ; 
and in 1894, 94 batsmen batted for .300 or better — a league record. 

In the Northwestern League, on May 11, 1913, Vancouver defeated 
Spokane, 6-4. All of these runs were the result of home runs, seven such 
hits being scored. For Vancouver first baseman Walsh, second baseman 
Bennett, third baseman McMurdo and outfielder Frisk each got one homer. 
For Spokane second baseman Wagner, pitcher Coveleskie and outfielder 
Johnson each got one homer. 

In the National League, in the Cincinnati-Chicago 9-6 game of June 
30, 1913, one ball only was used throughout the entire game, in spite of 
the fact that 15 runs were scored and it was a heavy-hitting game. At 
the close of the contest Umpire O'Day still had two clean balls in his 
pockets, not having thrown out a new one during the entire nine rounds. 
Umpire O'Day said this was a record for him in all the years he had been 
umpiring. 

INDIVIDUAL FIELDING RECORDS. 

Outfielder Fred Clarke, of Pittsburgh, on April 25, 1912, made a 
National League record with 10 put-outs of St. Louis men in left field. 
Left fielder Harry Bay, of Cleveland, made the American League record 
with 12 put-outs in 1908. 

In 1912, first baseman Konetchy, of the St Louis National League 
Club, went through 54 successive games without an error, accepting 592 
chances. Same year second baseman Wrigley, of the Lima (Ohio League) 
Club, played 35 successive games without an error, accepting 210 chances. 

In the Winchester- Shelby ville (Blue Grass League) game of July 21, 
1910, first baseman Mullen, of Shelbyville, had 21 put-outs and one assist. 
All of the put-outs were made by the battery and the infield, as follows : 
Put-outs — Mullen, first base, 21 ; Horn, catcher, 5 ; Kraher, second base, 1. 
Assists — Kraher, second base, 10 ; Goosetree, third base, 3 ; Callahan, short- 
stop, 3 ; Horn, catcher, 1 ; Black, pitcher, 3 ; Mullen, first base, 1. The out- 
field never handled a single ball. Score, 2-0. Battery — Winchester: Black, 
pitcher, and Horn, catcher ; Shelbyville : Vallandigham, pitcher, and Minger, 
catcher. 

On May 30, 1895, at Philadelphia, outfielder "Dusty" Miller, of the 
Cincinnati National League team, threw out four Philadelphia players at 
first base from right field. On August 23, 1910, outfielder Fred Clarke, of 
the Pittsburgh National League team, made four assists from left field, 
throwing out a Philadelphia runner at each of the four bases. 

In 1905, catcher Ossie Schreckengost, of the Athletics (American 
League), accepted 889 chances. In 1907, first baseman "Jiggs" Donohue, 
of Chicago (American League), accepted 1986 chances. In 1904, second 
baseman John Evers, of Chicago (National League), accepted 899 chances. 
In 1899, third baseman James Collins, of Boston (National League), 
accepted 601 chances. In 1892, shortstop Robert Allen, of Philadelphia 
(National League), accepted 955 chances. In 1899, outfielder James 
Slagle, of Washington (National League), accepted 424 chances. 

Outfielder Samuel L. Thompson, of the Detroit Club, of the National 
League, in 1887, played in all of the games (championship and exhibition) 
played by that team, 184 — a record. 

Catcher George Gibson, of the Pittsburgh National League Club, in 
1909, caught consecutively in 140 games out of a 154-game schedule. In 
1908, catcher Claude Berry, of the San Francisco (Pacific Coast League) 
Club, caught in 163 games — but that was under an eight months' schedule. 
In 1908, catcher Bresnahan caught 139 games for the Ncav York (National 
League) team. In 1912, catcher Louis Ritter, of the Utica (New York 



i8o RicHTER^s History and Records of Base Ball 

League) Club, caught in every game of the 139 games, and three innings of 
a postponed game, played by his club. 

At Yazoo City, Miss., on June 11, 1912, one catcher was behind the 
bat for both teams for 16 innings in the Cotton States League double- 
header between Columbus and Yazoo City. In the second inning o'f the 
first game the Columbus catcher was hurt and there was no one to take 
his place. The Yazoo City catcher, Taylor, volunteered to keep the game 
going, and it was agreed to by all in authority. Yazoo City won both games. 




Great Pitchers Who Hold Various Records for the World 
IN THE Major Leagues 

1 — Arthur Cummings, inventor of curve pitching in 1867. 2 — A. G. 
Spalding, great pitcher of decade from 1865 to 1875. 3 — J. Luby, holder 
of a consecutive winning record of 17 games. 4 — Charles Sweeney, holder 
of the major league strike-out record for a game. 5 — George E. Waddell, 
holder of the major strike-out record for a season. 6 — Tim Keefe, holder 
of major league record among right-handed pitchers for consecutive- vic- 
tories. 7 — Denton T. Young, holder of the world's record for length of 
major league service. 8 — Richard Marquard, holder of major league record 
among left-handed pitchers for consecutive victories. 



PITCHING RECORDS 

Wbt M^np W^onhtxinl ^rotien Jfeatsf of Ancient anb 
ilobern ^itcfters;, in tfie Way of ^trifee=©ttte, Consiecutibe 
3Runs; of Victories?, anli ©tfjer particulars^ ^et jForttj in 
JBetaiL exceptional performances? Jgp Jlanp ^itcftersf. 




S THE game of Base Ball revolves about 
the pitcher, as a wheel turns with its axle, 
it is quite natural that many striking 
records should have been made in that 
department of the game. In the chapter 
on the development of the Playing Rules 
we have noted all of the changes made 
in the pitching rules as a result of the 
constant effort to equalize the defense, as represented by pitching 
and fielding, with the offense, as embodied in batting and base 
running. It is therefore not necessary to go over that ground 
again, hence this chapter will be devoted to concise and correct 
narration of the various standing records made in the pitching 
department of Base Ball. 

GAME AND SEASON STRIKE-OUTS. 

In nearly every department of his work the pitcher requires 
the assistance of his team-mates to make records and accomplish 
results, except in the matter of strike-outs. Here the pitcher can 
stand upon his own bottom and depend upon his own efforts. 
Even if badly seconded behind the bat, the pitcher is bound to 
get full reward for his part of the work, as he is credited with 
a strike-out even if the catcher fails to complete the play with 
an out, or requires assistance to make the out. To this fact is 
due the public delight in pitching duels, which are usually close 
contests ; and the unflagging interest in strike-out performances 
and records. 

INDIVIDUAL STRIKE-OUT RECORDS. 

Appended will be found a correct list of the best records 
in individual strike-out feats from the early days up to 19 14. 
In the list all the records were made at the modern pitching 
distance of 60 feet 5 inches — which, time has proven, helps. 



1 82 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

rather than handicaps, the pitcher by reason of increased control 
and curving power — except the records of Sweeney and Ramsey. 
Sweeney's record was made at the 50-feet distance and the "high 
or low ball" rule handicap, and Ramsey had to surmount the 
additional handicap of the "four-strike" rule, which was in effect 
in 1887 — and in that year only. Under the conditions Ramsey's 
feat is to be justly considered as the most wonderful of its kind 
ever performed. It should be noted that of the below record- 
holding pitchers, Pierce, Ramsey and Waddell were left-handed 
pitchers. The records follow: 

Best professional record — Pitcher William Mitchell, of San Antonio 
(Texas League), struck out 20 Galveston batsmen in 1909. Pitcher Frank 
Davis, (>f Knoxville (Appalachian League), struck out 20 Bristol batsmen 
in 1912. Pitcher Fred Applegate, of Paris (Blue Grass League), struck 
out 20 Mount Sterling batsmen in 1912. 

Best extra-inning record — Pitcher George Pierce, of Scran ton (New 
York State League), struck out 15 Wilkes-Barre batsmen in the first 9 
innings and 22 in the entire game of 13 innings in 1912. 

Best National League record — Pitcher Charles Sweeney, of Providence, 
struck out 19 Boston batsmen in 1884. 

Best American Association record — Pitcher Tom Eamsey, of Louisville, 
struck out 17 Cleveland batsmen in 1887. 

Best American League record — Pitcher Glade, of St. Louis, struck out 
16 Washington men in 1904, and Waddell, of St. Louis, struck out 16 
Athletic men in 1908. 

Best college record — Pitcher Mike Lynch, of Brown University, struck 
out 21 Columbia batsmen in 1903 ; pitcher Conzelman, of Brown University, 
struck out 21 Columbia batsmen in 1911. 

SEASON STRIKE-OUT RECORDS. 

The matter of season strike-out records has been the subject of more 
or less controversy. During the 1910 season Walter Johnson, of the 
Washington (American League) Club, struck out 313 men in 42 games — 
and this was claimed as a world's record. It was quickly shown, however, 
that Waddell, of the Athletic (American League) Club, in 1904 struck out 
343 men in 46 games — an average of nearly eight strike-outs per game. 
That this could only stand as a major league record was decided when in 
1910 pitcher Vean Gregg, of the Portland (Pacific Coast League) Club, 
struck out 367 men in 395 innings, an average of 8.34 strike-outs per game 
for 44 'full games pitched. An investigation by Herbert Pontius, a base 
ball statistician, revealed that even Gregg's feat could not be absolutely 
accepted as a world's record — except at the modern 60 feet 5 inches pitch- 
ing distance. Mr. Pontius' figures, published in 1912, claimed the major 
league season strike-out records for a full quarter of a century to be as 
follows : 



No. Struck Ave. 

Rtdiers, Tear. Games. Out. Per G. 

H. Daly 1884 54 464 8.59 

Waddell .... 1904 39 323 8.30 

Waddell 1903 33 264 8.00 

Ramsey 1886 63 494 7.85 

Kilroy ...... 1886 65 505 7.77 

Shaw 1884 61 459 7.52 

Johnson 1910 41 307 7.49 

Whitney 1884 35 261 7.46 

Waddell 1905 36 268 7.44 

Burke 1884 33 238 7.21 

Waddell 1908 27 194 7.19 



No. Struck Ave. 

' Pitchers. Tear. Games. Out. Per G. 

Matthews 1885 46 298 6.47 

W. Sweeney . . 1884 55 352 6.47 

Clarkson 1886 51 325 6.37 

Rusie 1891 54 342 6.34 

Morris 1884 50 313 6.28 

Mathewson .. 1903 40 254 6.27 

Ramsey 1890 40 254 6.27 

C. Sweeney .. 1884 53 384 6.22 

Buffington ... 1884 65 453 6.18 

C. Baldwin . . . 1886 55 346 6.18 

Ames 1905 28 173 6.17 



Pitching Records 



183 







No. 


struck 


Ave. 


Pitchers. 


Year. 


Games. Out. 


Per G. 


Ames 


. 1906 


22 


156 


7.09 


Waddell . . . . 


. 1907 


28 


198 


7.03 


Overall 


. 1908 


2B 


141 


6.18 


Henderson . 


. 1884 


49 


840 


6.98 


Waddell .... 


. 1902 


'80 


205 


6.88 


Keefe 


. 1888 


49 


884 


6.50 


Walsh 


. 1910 


36 


234 


6.50 



Pitchers. 

Terry 

Waddell 1901 26 158 

Stivitts 1890 47 283 

Mathewson ... 1901 33 198 

Keefe 1884 57 342 

Ramsey 1887 62 372 



No. Struck Ave. 
Year. Games. Out. Per G. 

1888 22 134 6.04 
6.04 
0.02 
6.00 
6.00 
6.00 



An investigation of the above alleged feat of Hugh Daly (a famous 
one-armed pitcher in the '80s), as shown by the box scores published in 
Sporting Life in 1884, revealed that Daly in that year pitched for the 
Chicago National League Club in 15 games with 140 strike-outs; that he 
then jumped to the outlaw Union League (which could not be classed as 
a major league) and pitched in 26 games with 225 strike-outs for the Chicago 
Unions ; in 10 games, with 67 strike-outs, for the Pittsburgh Unions, and 
in two games with 14 strike-outs for the Washington Unions — a total of 
446 strikeouts in 53 games, an average of 7.75 strike-outs per game, made 
at the 50-feet pitching distance. Admitting Daly to the major league 
list he would still be only entitled to sixth place, just behind Kilroy, leaving 
Waddell in undisputed possession of the record, to which he is doubly en- 
titled by reason of his 1904 feat (which in the Pontius record above is 
given as 323 instead of 343) and the fact that he figures high in the list 
seven times all told, with a grand total of 1610 strike-outs in 219 games 
for a grand average of 7.80 per game and 230 strike-outs per year for seven 
years. 

CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES BY PITCHERS. 

The major league season of 1912 was made memorable by the establish- 
ment of three new records of consecutive victories by pitchers. In the Na- 
tional League pitcher Marquard, of New York, equaled Tim Keefe's 
long-standing record ctf 19 straight. In the American League, first pitcher 
Johnson, of Washington, and then pitcher Wood, of Boston, established 
new records for that league with 16 consecutive victories each. Herewith 
is given a correct resume of the most remarkable records of consecutive 
victories made by major league pitchers : 

TIM KEEFE'S RECORD OF NINETEEN. 

Contrary to general belief, the highest record of consecutive victories 
up to 1912 was not achieved by John Luby, of the Chicago Club — for reasons 
set forth below — but by the famous Tim Keefe, of the New York Giants of 
1888, then under the management of "Jim" Mutrie and the captaincy of the 
late "Buck" Ewing, considered by many competent critics the one "perfect 
player" of his day and generation. In this year Keefe, a right-handed 
pitcher, pitched and won 19 consecutive games — a feat which won the Na- 
tional League championship for New York that year, and yet attracted 
such scant attention that it was but little commented upon, and was vir- 
tually forgotten until 1912 ; and that, too, in spite of the fact that after 
Keefe had -won his 19 straight, he lost a game, and then came right back 
with two successive shut-out victories with, respectively, only two hits and 
one hit. On the whole 1888 season this great pitcher won 35 games, lost 
12 games, and tied 4 games. His consecutive winning record of the season 
was as follows : 

TIM KEEFE, NEW YORK, N. L., 1888. 

50 Feet; 5^/^x4 Box. High or Low Ball Abolished. 



DATE. 

June 23— Keefe, 
June 26 — Keefe, 
June 29— Keefe, 
July 2— Keefe, 
4 — Keefe, 
7— Keefe, 
11— Keefe, 
13— Keefe, 



July 
July 
July 
July 
July 
July 



OPPOSING CLUB. 

7; Phila., 6. 

4; Phila., 1. 

8; Washing'n, 3. 

6 ; Washing'n, 2. 

4; Detroit, 1. 

6; Pittsburgh, 4. 

5 ; Indianap's, 2. 

4; Indianap's, 0, 

16— Keefe, 12; Chicago, 4. 
17— Keefe, 7 ; Chicago, 4. 



DATE. OPPOSING CLUB. 

July 20— Keefe, 7; Phila., 6. 
July 23— Keefe, 2; Boston, 0. 
July 25— Keefe, 5; Boston 1. 
July 28— Keefe, 4; Phila., 2. 
Aug. 1 — Keefe, 5 ; Washing'n, 4. 
Aug. 3— Keefe:, 9; Boston, 6. 
Aug. 6 — Keefe, 3 ; Indianap's, 2. 
Aug. 8 — Keefe, 4 ; Indianap's, 1. 
Aug. 10— Keefe, 2; Pittsburgh, 1. 



i84 



Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



MARQUARD'S RECORD OF NINETEEN. 

Tim Keefe's record, after standing alone since 1888, was equaled by 
Marquard, of the New York Giants, in 1912 — a left-handed pitcher thus, 
for the first time, taking a place among the record-breaking pitchers, here- 
tofore all right-handers. The records of Marquard, Keefe and Radbourn, 
however, were each made under different conditions, thus m;aking exact 
comparison or duplication impossible, or, at least unfair. The Marquard 
record was made under the present pitching distance of 60 feet 5 inches 
from the home plate, with pitching slab and one step in delivery ; adopted in 
1893. Keefe's record was made at the old distance of 50 feet with the 
pitcher confined to a 5%x4 box. Radbourn's record was made at the 50-feet 
distance, box 6x4, but with the batsman privileged to call for a high or low 
ball; which privilege was abolished in 1887. At first glance Marquard's 
feat, under the present long pitching distance, would seem the most diffi- 
cult, but,^ as a matter of fact, experience has proven that the lengthened 
distance increased rather than diminished the pitcher's effectiveness, as it 
permits of much better curve without perceptible effect on speed or change 
of pace. Following is the complete and correct record of Marquard's unique 
m;odern performance up to its closure on July 8, 1912: 

R. MAEQIJARD, NEW Y«OEK, N. L., 1912. 

60 Feet, 5 Inches ; 24-inch Slab ; One Step. 



DATE. 

June 3 — Marquard, 
June 8 — Marquard 
June 12 — Marquard, 
June 17 — Marquard, 
June 19 — Marquard, 
June 21 — Marquard, 
June 25 — Marquard, 
June 29 — Marquard, 
July 3 — -Marquard, 



OPPOSING CLUB. 

8; St. Louis 3. 

6; Cincin'ti, 2. 

3; Chicago, 2. 

5; Pittsb'h, 4. 

6; Boston, 5. 

5; Boston, 2. 

2; Phila., 1. 

8; Boston, 6. 

2 ; Brooklyn, 1. 



DATE. OPPOSING CLUB, 

Apr. 11 — Marquard, 18 ; Brook'n, 3. 

Apr. 16 — Marquard, 8; Boston, 2. 

Apr. 24 — Marquard, 11; Phila., 4. 

May 1 — Marquard, 11; Phila., 4. 

May 7— Marquard, 6; St. L., 2. 

May 11 — Marquard, 10; Chicago, 3. 

May 16 — Marquard, 4; Pittsb'h, 1. 

May 20 — Marquard, '3; Cincin'i, 0. 

May 24 — Marquard, 6; Brook'n, 3. 

May 30 — Marquard, 7; Phila., 1. 

RADBOURN'S RECORD OF EIGHTEEN. 

The most wonderful pitching record ever made, all conditions con- 
sidered, was the 18 straight victories achieved by Charles Radbourn, of 
the Providence Club, of the National League, in 1884. Radbourn pitched 
all of the victories within a month — many of them on successive days — and 
in the 18 games yielded double figures in hits only twice ; his first defeat 
after the 18 victories was a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Buffalo, he yielding 
only five hits ; and thereafter he pitched 8 more successive victories, making 
a total of 26 victories in 27 games pitched from August 7 to September 18 — 
a performance never equaled for skill and endurance, especially when we 
consider that it was performed at 50 feet, 6x4 box, and with the batsman 
privileged to call *for high or low ball. All things considered, Radbourn's 
record, under the distance and handicaps of 1884, combined with the lack 
of latter-day accoutrements of the fielders, must still stand as the most 
m,arvelous pitching performance of record, especially when we consider that 
it was achieved within less than a month — was, in fact, virtually a con- 
tinuous performance. The record of the 18 games won is as follows : 

RADBOURN, PROVIDENCE, N. L., 1884. 

50 Feet. Box 6x4. High or Low Ball Mandatory. 



DATE. OPPOSING CLUB. 

Aug. 7 — Radbourn, 4; N. Y., 2. 

Aug. 9 — Radbourn, 1 ; Boston, 0. 

Aug. 11 — Radbourn, 4; Boston, 1. 

Aug. 12 — Radbourn, 4 ; Boston, 0. 

Aug. 14 — Radbourn, 1 ; Boston, 0. 

Aug. 15— Radbourn, 3 ; Cleve'd, 2, 

Aug. 19 — Radbourn, 4; Detroit, 2. 

Aug. 21 — Radbourn, 5 ; Chicago, 3. 

Aug. 23 — Radbourn, 7; Chicago, 3. 



DATE. 

Aug. 27 — Radbourn, 
Aug. 28 — Radbourn, 
Aug. 29 — Radbourn, 
Aug, 30 — Radbourn, 
Sept. 2 — Radbourn, 
Sept. 3 — Radbourn, 
Sept. 4 — Radbourn, 
Sept. 5 — Radbourn, 
Sept. 6 — Radbourn, 



OPPOSING CLUB. 

5; Chicago, 3. 
6 ; Chicago, 4. 
7; Detroit, 1. 
6; Detroit, 5, 
4; Buffalo, 0. 

Buffalo, 1. 

Cleve'd, 1. 

Cleve'd, 4. 

Cleve'd, 0. 



10; 
3i 

5i 



Pitching Records 



185 



WELCH'S RECORD OF SEVENTEEN. 

A record almost equaling that of Radbourn as to successive victories 
was made by pitcher Mickey Welch, of the New York Nationals, in 1885, 
under same distance, box, and high-and-low-ball handicaps, as obtained for 
Radbourn in 1884. In the 1885 season Welch pitched and won 17 suc- 
cessive games — notwithstanding which great feat, however, the Giants failed 
to win the championship, Chicago beating them out after a close race. Fol- 
lowing is Welch's record of consecutive victories : 

MICKEY WELCH, NEW YOKK, N. L., 1885. 

50 Feet. Box 6x4. High or Low Ball Mandatory. 



DATE. 

July 18— Welch, 

July 21— Welch, 

July 23— Welch, 

July 27— Welch, 

July '30— Welch, 

Aug. 1 — Welch, 
Aug. 6— Welch, 

Aug. 10— Welch, 

Aug. 12— Welch, 



OPPOSING CLUB. 

3; St. Louis, 2. 

8 ; Detroit, 7. 

15 ; St. Louis, 3. 

6; Detroit, 3. 

3 ; Buffalo, 1. 

7; Chicago, 6. 

1 ; Chicago, 0. 

12; Chicago, 0. 

3 ; Boston, 2. 



DATE. 



Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug, 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Sept. 



15— Welch, 12 

18— Welch, 7 

20— Welch, 7 

22— Welch, 9 

26— Welch, 6 

28— Welch, 3 

31— Welch, 5 

4r— Welch, 6 



OPPOSING CLUB. 

; Providence, 2. 

; Philadelphia, 3. 

; Philadelphia, 1. 

; Philadelphia, 0. 

; Providence, 0. 

; Boston, 1. 

; Philadelphia, 1. 

: Boston, 3. 



LUBY'S RECORD OF SEVENTEEN. 



An amazing thing is that pitcher John Luby, of the Chicago National 
League Club, should have been credited with a record of 20 consecutive 
victories in 1890, and that record should have stood unchallenged and with- 
out investigation until the 1912 year, when Marquard's wonderful perform- 
ance caused an overhauling of the records such as they have not had 
within two decades. The ready acceptance of the alleged Luby record can 
only be explained on two grounds, namely, first, the fact that in Luby's 
time pitchers' records were based upon the runs earned off the pitching 
and without any reference whatever to the games won and lost ; and second, 
to the fact that in 1890-91 public and critic attention was entirely absorbed 
in the Brotherhood war and the subsequent League-Association war, the 
work and records of the players being lost sight of in these momentous 
clashes of principles, policies and personalities. A thorough search of Sport- 
ing Life file of 1890 by the Editor o'f this History and Records of 
Base Ball reveals the fact that Luby's best performance in that season 
was 17, not 20, consecutive victories. In the unofiicial statistics, widely 
published, Luby was credited with a run of victories starting with July 8 
and ending October 3. Investigation revealed that between July 8 and July 
22 Luby lost four consecutive games to Boston, Brooklyn and Philadel- 
phia ; on July 20 he and Dem,aree jointly lost a game to Brooklyn ; and 
for August 13 he was credited with a game in which Stein pitched and 
Luby played first base. According to Sporting Life's files Luby's winning 
streak began on August 6 and was thereafter maintained until the close of 
the season on October 3, as per the following record : 

JOHN LUBY, CHICAGO, N. L., 1890. 

50 Feet. Box 5^/^x4. High or Low Ball Abolished. 



date. opposing CLUB. 

Aug. 6 — Luby, 7 ; Cleveland, 1. 
Aug. 9 — Luby, 6; Pittsburgh, 4. 
Aug. 19 — Luby, 7; Pittsburgh, 4. 
Aug. 25 — Luby, 6; New York, 5. 
Aug. 28— Luby, 13; Philadelphia, 3. 
Sept. 1 — Luby, 4; Boston, 1. 
Sept. 5 — Luby, 12 ; Cincinnati, 8. 
Sept. 10— Luby, 8; Pittsburgh, 1. 
Sept. 12— Luby, 17 ; Cleveland, 2. 



date. opposing CLUB. 

*Sept. 13— Luby, 11; Cleveland, 6. 
Sept. 15 — Luby, 6 ; Cincinnati, 3. 
Sept. 18 — Luby, 8 ; Cincinnati, 4. 
Sept. 19— Luby, 10 ; Brooklyn, 5. 
Sept. 22— Luby, 14; Brooklyn, 1. 
Sept. 27— Luby, 6; Boston, 2. 
Sept. 30 — Luby, 6 ; Boston, 4. 
Oct. 3— Luby, 3; New York, 2. 
* Stein started ; Luby finished. 



M'CORMICK'S RECORD OF SIXTEEN. 

The question of pitching records caused a revival in 1912 of a false 
claim for pitcher McCormiek, of the Chicago National League Club, whose 
origin is shrouded in mystery, but which was first given the appearance of 



i86 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

authenticity by its inclusion in a hastily-compiled record book published in 
the West some years ago. In this book McCormick was credited with a 
record of 24 straight victories in 1886. Various papers in 1912 revamped 
this alleged record notwithstanding its refutation by the Spoeting Life 
some years ago. In Sporting Life of 1886 appear the scores of all 
National League games played that year, and the "Reach Guide" of that year 
also gives his record, and that record shows absolutely that McCormick 
did not pitch in 24 consecutive victories in 1886 — or any other year — and 
never even equaled Radbourn's great record of 18 straight victories in 
1884. As a matter of fact, McCormick's record in 1886 was 16 straight 
victories, which was the best performance of his career; although in 1884 
he won 14 straight games for the Cincinnati Club, of the outlaw Union 
League — an inferior organization to which he, in company with Briody and 
Glasscock, jumped from the Cleveland Club in mid-season. McCormick's 
genuine 1886 record follows: 

JAMES M'CORMICK, CHICAGO, N. L., 1886. 

50 Feet. Box 7x4. High and Low Ball Mandatory. 

OPPOSING CLUB. I DATE. OPPOSING CLUB. 



May 5 — McCormick, 9; St. L., 6. 

May 7— McCormick, 6; Detroit, 2. 

May 10 — McCormick, 7; Boston, 1. 

May 13— McCormick, 7 ; N. Y., 3. 

May 18 — ^McCormick, 7 ; Wash'n, 6. 

May 21— McCormick, 9 ; Phila., 2. " 



June 2 — McCormick, 9 ; Boston, 0. 

June 5 — McCormick, 4; N. Y., 0. 

June 8— McCormick, 3; N. Y., 2. 

June 12— McCormick, 8; Kan. C, 2. 

June 19 — McCormick, 5; Detroit, 4. 

June 24— McCormick, 9; Wash'n., 8. 

May 24— McCormick, 8; Phila.; 5. "I June 28— McCormick, 3; Phila., 2. 

May 28— McCormick, 20 ; Was'n., O-l July 1— McCormick, 7 ; N. Y., 3. 

JOHNSON'S RECORD OF SIXTEEN. 

Walter Johnson, the great pitcher of the Washington team, of the 
American League, in the 1912 season established a new American League 
pitching record with 16 successive victories — thus topping the record of 
14 straight, made by "Jack" Chesbro, in 1904. It was hoped and believed 
that Johnson, from the way he was going and the fast team behind him, 
would surely tie the Marquard-Keefe major league record o'f 19 straight, 
and possibly pass it, thus creating a new major league record. It must 
ever be a regret that he was stopped under conditions that led to controversy 
and left the sting of keen disappointment and strong dissatisfaction. On 
Monday, August 26, in the second game of a double-header with St. Louis, 
Johnson was sent in to relieve Hughes in the seventh inning with the score 
tied, 2-2, and with one out and two men on bases. Before Johnson could 
retire the side the two base runners scored and ultimately St. Louis won 
out, 4-3. There was much argument as to whether Hughes or Johnson 
should be charged with the defeat; and a disposition to saddle the defeat 
upon Hughes with a view to enabling Johnson to pursue his efforts for a 
supreme record. The matter was referred for official decision to President 
Johnson, of the American League, and he properly, and as was expected, 
ruled that the defeat should be charged to Johnson. This was the only just 
and logical decision that could have been rendered, for the reason that with 
the score tied, no matter how many men were left on base by his predecessor, 
Johnson would have been credited with a victory had his team won out, and 
he was, therefore, justly charged with defeat when his team lost out. Broad- 
ly considered, it was just as well that President Johnson ruled as he did, 
otherwise any record Johnson might have made after a favorable decision 
would have been forever questioned and attributed to partisanship. Follow- 
ing is the record of Johnson's victories which give him the American 
League record — which is some glory, anyhow : 

WALTER JOHNSON, WASHINGTON, A. L., 1912. 

60 Feet, 5 Inches; 24-inch Slab; One Step. 

DATE. OPPOSING CLUB. I DATE. OPPOSING CLUB. 

* July 13— Johnson, 10 ; N. Y., 2. | Aug. 2— Johnson, 4 ; Detroit, 0. 
tJuly 5 — Johnson, 6; N. Y., 5. |$Aug. 5 — Johnson, 8; Chicago, 7. 



Pitching Records 187 



DATE. OPPOSING CLUB. 

§Aug. 7 — Johnson, 10; Chicago, 1. 

Aug. 11 — Johnson, 3; St. Louis, 2. 
II Aug. 15 — Johnson, 4 ; Chicago, 3. 

Aug. 16 — Johnson, 4; Chicago, 0. 

Aug. 20 — Johnson, 4; Cleveland, 2. 

Aug. 23 — Johnson, 8 ; Detroit, 1. 



DATE. OPPOSING CLUB. 

July 8 — Johnson, 4; Cleveland, 3. 

July 14 — Johnson, 7 ; Chicago, 2. 

July 16 — Johnson, 7; Chicago, 2. 

July 22— Johnson, 5 ; Detroit, 3. 

July 25 — Johnson, 7; Detroit, 5. 

July 28 — Johnson, 4 ; Cleveland, 1. 

♦Relieved by Musser, with Washington leading, 9 to 1. 
tRelieved Engle with New York leading, 4 to 1. 
^Relieved Cashion, with score tied. 
§ Relieved by Engle, with Washington leading, 7 to 1. 
II Relieved Cashion, with score tied. 

WOOD'S RECORD OF SIXTEEN. 

Topping off a season of remarkable pitching records — such as 19 straight 
games by Marquard, of New York ; 16 straight by Johnson, of Washington ; 
11 straight by Dubuc, of Detroit ; and 7 straight by Tesreau, of New York — 
pitcher Joe Wood, of the Boston Red Sox, achieved the feat of winning 16 
straight games from July 8 to September 15, 1912, thus equaling the new 
American League record achieved by Walter Johnson earlier in the 1912 
season. In the hope of enabling Wood to pass Johnson's record, Manager 
Stahl held him out of the final Boston series with Cleveland, that team 
having proven a hard one all season for the Boston team ; and pitted him 
against Detroit, on September 20. The plan miscarried, as Boston was de- 
feated, thus ending all hope of making a superior American League record 
or a new National League or world's record. Wood's defeat by Detroit was 
partly due to his own lack of control and partly to Covington's exceptional 
effectiveness. Covington was officially credited with the victory. Following 
is the record of Wood's victories : 

JOSEPH WOOD, BOSTON, A. L., 1912. 

60 Feet, 5 Inches; 24-inch Slab; One Step. 



DATE. OPPOSING CLUB. 

July 8— Wood, 5; St. Louis, 1. 

July 12— Wood, 1; Detroit, 0. 

July 17— Wood, 7; Chicago, 3. 

July 23— Wood, 6; Cleveland, 3. 

*July 28— Wood, 7; Chicago, 4. 

Aug. 2— Wood, 9 ; St. Louis, 0. 

Aug. 6 — Wood, 5 ; Cleveland, 4. 

Aug. 10 — Wood, 4; Detroit, 1. 



DATE. OPPOSING CLUB. 

Aug. 14— Wood, 8; St. Louis, 0. 

Aug. 20— Wood, 6; Detroit, 2. 

Aug. 24— Wood, 8; Cleveland, 1. 

Aug. 28— Wood, 3 ; Chicago, 0. 

Sept. 2— Wood, 1; New York, 0. 

Sept. 6 — Wood, 1; Washington, 0. 

Sept. 10— Wood, 5 ; Chicago, 4. 

Sept. 15— Wood, 2 ; St. Louis, 1. 



♦Relieved by Bedient in fifth inning, with Boston ahead ; Wood credited 
with victory. 

BAXTER SPARKS' WORLD'S RECORD. 

The above records leave the consecutive victories records of other pitch- 
ers so far behind that it is not worth while to do more than enumerate them 
briefly. They ' are : Rusie, New York Nationals, 1894, 15 straight ; 
Young, St. Louis Americans, 1902, 13 straight ; Young, Boston Americans, 

1903, 13 straight ; Waddell, Athletics, 1903, 13 straight ; Chesbro, New York 
Americans, 1904, 14 straight; Reulbach, Chicago Nationals, 1909, 14 
straight — all made at the modern pitching distance. The best record of 
successive victories made by any pitcher in any league under modern con- 
ditions, of which we have any record, belongs to a minor league pitcher. In 

1904, pitcher Baxter Sparks, of the Yazoo City, Miss., Club, of the Delta 
League — the parent of the later Cotton States League — pitched 33 games, 
of which he won 21 in succession. In making this record he pitched three 
double-headers, which included three shut-outs ; four games in one week 
against two teams; and a no-hit game. In 1913 pitcher Ralph Bell, of 
the Winona Club, of the Northern League, won 19 consecutive games. 

BEST INDIVIDUAL SEASON PITCHING RECORD. 

There have been many wonderful pitching records made in organized 
bail since the development of Base Ball into a National game, but the best 
individual record for any one season was made by pitcher Charles Rad- 



1 88 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

bourn, o'f the Providence National League team of 1884. Radbourn, in 
1884, worked in 80 full games for Providence, then in the National League 
— 71 scheduled championship games, six exhibitions and three games in the 
World's Series, winning 66 and losing 12. Two were tie games. His per- 
centage of victories was .846, the second highest on record. A. G. Spalding 
had a pitching percentage of .899 in games won, made in 1875, but that 
record was made at the 45-f6et distance, as against 50 feet in Radbourn's 
time. About the mtiddle of the season of 1884 the great Sweeney deserted 
the Providence Club for the St. Louis team of the Union Association. 
This left Radbourn without assistance and that is why he made his famous 
record by pitching 38 consecutive games, winning 34, and 18 of them in 
succession. It was due entirely to his wonderful work that Providence 
won the pennant that year. Following is Radbourn's complete 1884 record : 

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES. 
CLUB. RES. AB. H. E. BB. SO. SCORE. 

Cleveland W. 33 5 2 1 4 2-5 

Buffalo W. 32 5 2 2 3 2-5 

Buffalo W. 31 5 1 2 2 1-3 

Chicago L. 38 8 5 3 3 5-0 

Detroit W. 31 5 3 4 5 3-25 

Detroit W. 38 8 2 1 7 2-5 

New York W. 28 3 1 3 0-3 

Philadelphia W. 38 7 1 6 1-8 

New York W. 38 13 4 8 4-10 

New York W. 42 12 9 2 7 9-12 

Philadelphia W. 34 7 2 1 9 2-9 

Boston T. 54 4 1 8 1-1 

Detroit W. 30 2 10 0-10 

Detroit W. 45 3 14 0-1 

Boston L. 38 11 4 1 3 4-1 

Boston W. 53 7 3 2 13 3-4 

Philadelphia W. 30 5 1 2 4 1-13 

New York W. 30 1 1 1-15 

Chicago W 39 12 6 3 8 6-8 

Chicago W. 35 10 4 1 4 4-13 

Chicago L. 37 10 5 2 5 5-4 

Cleveland L. 35 12 4 1 2 4-2 

Cleveland W. 37 10 2 5 2-4 

New York L. 41 15 12 1 4 12-7 

Cleveland W. 35 10 3 3 1 3-10 

Buffalo W. 41 13 9 2 9-14 

Buffalo L. 35 9 5 1 9 5-1 

Boston W. 30 4 1 8 0-2 

Boston L. 33 7 7 2 6 7-1 

Boston W. 33 6 6 2 8 6-9 

Boston L. 33 9 5 2 6 5-2 

New York W. 29 9 5 6 4 5-11 

Philadelphia W. 37 10 3 1 8 3-16 

New York W. 33 6 5 3 6 5-8 

New York T. 34 8 3 1 6 3-3 

New York W. 36 7 3 6 3-7 

New York L. 41 9 2 7 2-1 

New York W. 31 4 2 1 1 2-4 

Boston W. 35 2 1 12 0-1 

Boston W. 29 2 1 2 3 i- 3 

Boston W. 32 7 8 0-4 

Boston W. 30 6 1 5 0-1 

Cleveland W. 32 5 2 2 11 2-3 

Detroit W. 31 5 2 2 10 2-4 

Chicago W. 32 8 3 6 4 3-5 

Chicago W. 37 6 3 2 2 8-7 

Chicago W. 33 6 3 1 5 3-5 

Chicago W. 36 11 4 1 2 4-6 

Detroit W. 34 7 1 6 1-7 

Detroit W. 44 10 5 1 7 5-6 

Buffalo W. 30 3 10 0-4 



Pitching Records 



189 



CLUB. RES. AB. H. R. BB. SO. SCORE. 

Buffalo W. 34 9 1 1 7 1-10 

Cleveland W. 33 8 1 3 1-3 

Cleveland W. 32 5 4 8 4-5 

Cleveland W. 31 6 1 8 0-2 

Buffalo L. 29 5 2 1 8 2-0 

Cleveland W. 35 9 3 2 5 3-5 

Cleveland W. 33 5 1 11 1-9 

Buffalo W. 34 6 2 4 2-8 

Buffalo W. 36 7 1 7 1-6 

Cleveland W. 35 9 2 1 2 2-10 

Detroit W. 33 6 2 1 8 2-4 

Detroit W. 34 7 5 2 5 5-9 

Detroit W. 38 10 6 2 4 6-9 

Detroit L. 39 9 7 3 8 7-1 

Chicago L. 33 7 5 3 6 5-3 

Chicago W. 34 6 3 2 7 3-8 

Buffalo W. 32 7 1 7 1-4 

Cleveland W. 39 10 7 2 2 7-9 

Cleveland W. 32 4 1 2 2 1-8 

Philadelphia W. 33 5 2 3 0-8 

EXHIBITION GAMES. 
CLUB. RES. AB. H. E. BB. SO. SCORE. 

Baltimore W. 31 6 2 1 7 2-9 

Washington W. 24 3 3 8 3-6 

Harrisburg W. 27 4 2 2 2 2-9 

Cincinnati W. 37 2 1 10 1-2 

Trenton W. 30 4 1 1 6 1-7 

Allegheny W. 33 8 2 5 0-9 

world's series. 

club. res. a3. h. r. bb. so. score. 

Metropolitan W. 31 2 8 0-6 

Metropolitan W. 25 3 1 1 6 1-3 

Metropolitan W. 24 5 2 1 2-5 

BEST INDIVIDUAL SERVICE RECORD. 

The 1912 base ball season witnessed the final retirement from the major 
league arena of that famous pitcher, Denton T. Young, who has had a long, 
honorable and unique career in base ball, no other pitcher ever having made 
such a record as Young for continuous major league service. It embraced 22 
consecutive years, beginning with Cleveland in the Fall of 1890, after a 
short preparatory career with the Canton Club, and embraced engagements 
with the Cleveland Nationals, St. Louis Nationals, St. Louis Americans, 
Boston Amiericans, Cleveland Americans, and Boston Nationals, ending in 
1912, with the last-named club. During his long career as a pitcher Young 
achieved many wonderful feats, including four no-hit games — one against the 
Athletics in which he did not allow a man to reach first base. In 1904 he 
pitched 45 straight innings without being scored on, and in 1905 he pitched 
and lost a 20-innings game against the Athletics. He also played on three 
champion teams and one world's champion team. He completed his twen- 
tieth year as a major league pitcher in the Fall of 1910, and after two years 
of infrequent pitching, retired in 1912, when his twenty-second year had 
been half completed. Following is Young's complete record : 

YEAR. CLUB. LEAGUE. G. BA. SB. FA. W. L. PCT. BB. SO. 

1890— Canton, 0.,...(Tri. League) 

1890— Cleveland (National League) 17 143 2 832 27 22 .581 129 152 

1891— Cleveland (National League) 52 163 796 10 7 .588 28 37 

1892— Cleveland (National League) 52 163 5 879 36 10 .783 109 166 

1893— Cleveland (National League) 48 251 4 855 34 17 .667 110 131 

1894r-Cleveland (National League) 48 213 4 902 25 21 .543 100 100 

1895— Cleveland (National League) 46 215 3 932 35 10 .777 74 121 

1896— Cleveland (National League) 48 304 1 860 29 16 .644 64 137 

1897— Cleveland (National League) 45 218 9 829 21 18 .538 51 90 

1898— Cleveland (National League) 44 253 2 920 24 14 .631 40 98 



190 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

teab. club. league. 6. ba. sb. fa. w. l. pct. bb. so. 

1899— St. Louis (National League) 43 216 1 870 26 15 .634 48 101 

1900— St. Louis (National League) 39 185 1 850 20 18 .526 36 120 

1901— Boston.. (American League) 45 223 1975 31 10.756 37 161 

1902— Boston. . (American League) 45 220 925 32 12 .727 39 166 

1903— Boston.. (American League) 41 330 2 946 28 9.757 38 182 

1904— Boston.. (American League) 43 290 2 923 26 16.619 30 205 

1905— Boston. . (American League) 38 150 9 967 18 19 .486 29 207 

1906— Boston.. (American League) 40 154 937 13 21.382 27 144 

1907— Boston.. (American League) 45 216 936 22 15.595 48 139 

1908— Boston.. (American League) 36 226 957 21 11 .656 37 150 

1909— Cleveland (American League) 34 190 1 916 19 15 .550 59 112 

1910— Cleveland (American League) 21 145 1 919 7 10 .412 27 58 

1911— Cleveland (American League) 7 3 4 .428 

1911— Boston... (National League) 11 4 6.400 

1912 — Boston ...( National League) 



*Totals 868 ... 38 ... 500 300 .63011792768 

*Total does not include years of 1911 or 1912 ; no official record being given 
pitchers who participated in less than 15 games. 

The record would not be complete without pointing out some of the sen- 
sational feats achieved by this wonderful pitcher in his long and honorable 
career. Here is a partial list : May 4, 1904, shut out Philadelphia Athletics 
without a hit, not a man reaching first base. June 24, 1892, for Cleveland, 
held St. Louis Browns to 16-innings tie, 3-3, at St. Louis, allowing five hits. 
July 4, 1905, lost to Athletics, 4-2, in 20-innings contest against Waddell. 
In 1904 he beat Ed Killian, of Detroit, 1-0, in 15 innings. June 30, 1908, 
he pitched a no-hit game against New York Americans, no player reaching 
second base, and made three hits. 

MAJOR LEAGUE NO-HIT GAMES. 

A feat that is the perfection o'f pitching art, is the aspiration of every 
pitcher, and is so comparatively rare that many really great pitchers have 
never been able to add such a feat to their records, is the no-hit feat — that 
is to dispose of an opposing team in a regulation nine-inning game without 
a safe hit. The difficulty and rarity of the feat is illustrated by the fact 
that from the date of the organization of the first professional league only 73 
pitchers in leagues of major league caliber have succeeded in accomplishing 
the feat, an average of only about one a season. The difficulty of the feat is 
not hard to understand. It means that the pitcher must have had the craft 
to fool at least 27 hitters. Not only must he have kept them from putting 
out hard drives into places of safety ; he must also have had the fielding 
ability to prevent a little bunt dropped along either base line, and beaten to 
first base, from marring the clean record of ciphers in the hit column. The 
infield hit counts just as big in the statistics as the drive that clears the 
fence, and nowadays, with the fast men that play the game, it is indeed 
an unusual contest where at least one player is not able to beat out a bunt. 
The first no-hit game of record was achieved by pitcher Mann, of Prince- 
ton, against Yale, on May 29, 1875. The first professional pitcher to per- 
form this feat of which there is any record was pitcher Joseph Borden, of 
Philadelphia, against Chicago, on July 28, 1875. In the semi-professional 
and minor league circles of the late '70s, the feat was performed five 
times, as follows : By James Galvin, o'f St. Louis Reds, against Phila- 
delphia, July 4, 1876 ; by James Galvin, of St. Louis Reds, against the 
Cass Club, of Detroit, August 17, 1876 ; by Lee Richmond, of Worcester, 
against Chicago, June 2, 1879; by Lee Richmond, of Worcester, against 
Springfield, July 28, 1879; and by Jack Lynch, of Washington Nationals, 
against Baltimore, May 24, 1880. Since tlaat time the feat has been per- 
formed many times by pitchers in minor leagues, and under the foul-strike 
rule, in vogue since 1901, they have become more plentiful in the minor 
leagues than in the major leagues. For purposes o*f record, however, we are 
only concerned with the latter organizations, in which alone we find the acme 
of both pitching and batting skill. Herewith are given all of the no-hit feats 
of record in the major leagues since the beginning of organized professional 
baU in 1871 : 



Pitching Records .191 



PBOFESSIONAL ASSOCIATBON. 
YEAR. DATE. PLAYER. OPPOSING TEAMS. 

1875 — July 28 — Borden Philadelphia vs. Chicago. 

1875 — Aug. 4 — Devlin Chicago vs. Philadelphia. 

UNION LEAGUE. 
YEAR. DATE. PLAYER. OPPOSING TEAMS. 

1884 — ^Aug. 26 — Burns Cincinnati vs. Kansas City. 

PLAYERS' LEAGUE. 
YEAR. DATE. PLAYERS. OPPOSING TEAMS. 

1890 — June 21 — King Chicago vs. Brooklyn. 

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION. 
YEAR. DATE. PLAYERS. OPPOSING TEAMS. 

1882 — Sept. 11 — MuUane Louisville vs. Cincinnati. 

1882 — Sept. 19 — Hecker Louisville vs. Allegheny. 

1882 — Oct. 10 — Driscoll Allegheny vs. Louisville. 

1883— Oct. 21— tMountjoy Cincinnati vs. Toledo. 

1884 — May 6 — ^McKeon Indianapolis vs. Cincinnati. 

1884 — May 24 — Atkisson Athletics vs. Allegheny. 

1884 — May 29 — Morris Columbus vs. Allegheny. 

1884 — June 5 — Mountain Columbus vs. Washington. 

1884 — Oct. 4 — Kimber Brooklyn vs. Toledo, 10 innings 

1886 — May 1 — Atkisson Athletics vs. Metropolitan. 

1886— July 24— Terry Brooklyn vs. St. Louis. 

1886— Oct. 6— Kilroy .Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh. 

1888 — May 27 — Terry .Brooklyn vs. Louisville. 

1888 — June 6 — Porter Kansas City vs. Baltimore. 

1888— July 31— Weyhing Athletics vs. Kansas City. 

1890 — Sept. 15 — Titcomb Rochester vs. Syracuse. 

1891 — Sept. 4 — Breitenstein St. Louis vs. Louisville. 

AMERICAN LEAGUE. 
YEAR. DATE. PLAYERS. OPPOSING TEAMS. 

1902— Sept. 20— Callahan Chicago vs. Detroit. 

1904 — May 5 — * Young Boston vs. Athletics. 

1904 — Aug. 17 — Tannehill Boston vs. Chicago. 

1905— July 22— Henley Athletics vs. St. Louis. 

1905— Sept. 6— F. Smith Chicago vs. Detroit. 

1905 — Sept. 27 — Dineen Boston vs. Chicago. 

1908 — June 30 — Young Boston vs. New York. 

1908 — Sept. 18 — Rhoades Cleveland vs. Boston. 

1908— Sept. 20— F. Smith Chicago vs. Athletics. 

1908— Oct. 2—* Joss Cleveland vs. Chicago. 

1910 — Apr. 20 — Joss Cleveland vs. Chicago. 

1910 — May 12 — Bender Athletics vs. Cleveland. 

1911— July 29— Wood Boston vs. St. Louis. 

1911 — Aug. 27 — Walsh Chicago vs. Boston. 

1912— July 4— MuUin Detroit vs. St. Louis. 

1912— Aug. 30— Hamilton St. Louis vs. Detroit. 

NATIONAL LEAGUE. 
YEAR. DATE. PLAYERS. OPPOSING TEAMS. 

1876— July 15— Bradley St. Louis vs. Hartford. 

1880 — July 12 — *Richmond Worcester vs. Cleveland. 

1880— July 17— * Ward Providence vs. Buffalo. 

1880 — Aug. 19 — Corcoran Chicago vs. Buffalo. 

1880— Aug. 20— Galvin Buffalo vs. Worcester. 

1882 — Sept. 20 — Corcoran Chicago vs. Worcester. 

1883 — July 25 — Radbourn Providence vs. Cleveland. 

1883— Sept. 13— Dailey Cleveland vs. Philadelphia. 

1884 — June 27 — Corcoran Chicago vs. Providence. 

1884— Aug. 4— Galvin Buffalo vs. Detroit. 

1885 — July 27 — Clarkson Chicago vs. Providence. 

1885 — Aug. 29 — Ferguson Philadelphia vs. Providence. 



192 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

YEAB. DATE. PLAYEBS. OPPOSING TEAMS. 

1891 — June 22 — Lovett Brooklyn vs. New York. 

1891 — July 31 — Rusie New York vs. Brooklyn. 

1892 — ^Aug. 6 — Stivetts Boston vs. Brooklyn. . 

1892 — Aug. 22 — Sanders Louisville vs. Baltimore. 

1892 — Aug. 15 — Jones Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh. 

1893 — Aug. 16 — Hawke Baltimore vs. Washington. 

1897 — Sept. 18 — Young Cleveland vs. Cincinnati. 

1898— Apr. 22 — Hughes Baltimore vs. Boston. 

1898 — Apr. 22 — Breitenstein Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh. 

1898 — July 8 — Donahue Philadelphia vs. Boston. 

1898 — Aug. 21 — Thornton Chicago vs. Brooklyn. 

1899 — May 25 — Phillippe Louisville vs. New York. 

1899 — Aug. 6 — Willis Boston vs. Washington. 

1900 — July 12 — Hahn Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia. 

1901 — July 15 — Mathewson New York vs. St. Louis. 

1903— Sept. 18— Fraser Philadelphia vs. Chicago. 

1905 — June 13 — Mathewson New York vs. Chicago. 

1906 — May 1 — Lush Philadelphia vs. Brooklyn. 

1906— July 20— Eason Brooklyn vs. St. Louis. 

1906 — May 8 — Pfeffer Boston vs. Cincinnati. 

1907— Sept. 20— Maddox Pittsburgh vs. Brooklyn. 

1908 — July 4 — Wiltse New York vs. Philadelphia, 10 innings. 

1908 — Sept. 5 — Rucker Brooklyn vs. Boston. 

1912— Sept. 6— Tesreau New York vs. Philadelphia. 

*No hit, not a man reaching first base. 

fOnly one hit made in game, Cincinnati getting one hit off Cushman, of 
Toledo. In Joss' no-hit game of October 2, 1910, only one hit was made in 
the game, Cleveland getting one hit off pitcher Walsh. 

REMARKABLE PITCHING FEATS. 

In the New England League, on September 6, 1911, pitcher Wolfgang, 
of Lowell, shut out Lynn, 1-0, in 12 innings, with two hits. Not a Lynn 
man reached first base or made a hit in 10 innings. Then Lynn got one hit 
in the eleventh and one more hit in the twelfth inning. Pitcher Walter, 
of Lynn, struck out 10 men and yielded only five hits. 

From 1901 to 1911, pitcher Mathewson, of the New York National 
League Club, won 22 successive games from the Cincinnati team. 

Pitcher Ben Sanders, of the Athletic (American Association) team, in 
1891, pitched only 68 balls in a game against St. Louis — a world's record. 

In 1903, pitcher Oliver Faulkner, of the Wilmington, Del., Club, shut 
out opposing teams consecutively in 77 innings — a world's record. In 1907 
pitcher Wilhelm, of the Birmingham, Southern League, Club, shut out 
opposing teams in 59 consecutive innings. In 1910 pitcher Alexander, of 
the Syracuse, New York League, Club, shut out opponents in 52 consecu- 
tive innings, during which he yielded only 22 hits. In 1910 pitcher Coombs, 
of the Athletic, American League, Club, shut out opponents in 46 con- 
secutive innings. In 1913 pitcher Walter Johnson, of the Washington, 
American League, Club, shut out opponents in 56 consecutive innings. 

In 1913, pitcher Christy Mathewson, o'f the New York, National League, 
Club, pitched 47 consecutive innings without giving a base on balls. 

Pitcher Hedgepeth, of the Petersburg Club, of the Virginia League, at 
Petersburg, on August 13, 1913, established a new record when he pitched 
and won both games of a double-header with Richmond. In the first game 
he allowed but one hit, winning his game, 1-0 ; in the second game he shut 
Richmond out, 10-0, without a safe hit. In the two games he only gave 
three bases on balls — one in the first game and two in the second game — 
and did not hit a batsman. In the first game Hedgepeth gave pitcher Ayers, 
of Richmond, the latter's first defeat after 13 successive victories. 

Pitcher William Whittaker, of the Keokuk, Central Association, Club, 
at Keokuk, la., on August 12, 1913, established a new record when he 
pitched 21 scoreless innings in a double-header with the Waterloo team, 
during which he allowed only five safe hits. Whittaker won his first game, 
1-0, and the second game, 2-0, the contest going to 12 innings. 

Pitcher Rudolph Schwenck, of the Saginaw Club, of the South Michi- 
gan League, made a modern pitching record in 1913. In four days from 
July 6 to July 9, inclusive, he pitched four full games and finished another 
-^36 innings in all. He struck out 33 men in 36 innings and allowed 21 
hits, which netted his opponents seven runs. 




Modern Pitchers Who Stand Out Pre-Eminently Great 
IN Some Respects 

1 — Christy Mathewson, the greatest modern pitcher in point of effec- 
tiveness and control. 2 — Walter Johnson, considered the fastest pitcher 
in the world up to 1914. 3 — Edward J. Walsh, the most effective of all 
spit-ball pitchers. 4 — Edward Plank, the greatest of all left-handed pitch- 
ers in point of control. 5 — Grover Alexander, estimated to be a finished 
expert in all points of pitching. 6 — Napoleon Rucker, the best all-around 
left-handed pitcher of his time in the National League. 7 — Albert Bender, 
the greatest Indian pitcher ever developed in Base Ball. 8 — Edward Reul- 
bach, considered to be second only to Walter Johnson in point of speed. 




THE GREAT PITCHERS 

ai JSrief aeiebiettj of tf|E Careers; of tije (great ?|ofl(t of jMajor 
league ^itctierj; OTifio ^atie Carbeb (But Jpor W^tm- 
sielbesJ permanent places; in tt^t pasfe pall ©all of jFame. 

lOME years ago — or in 1908, to be precise — 
the late William Rankin, of Brooklyn, pub- 
lished an interesting review of the great 
pitchers of Base Ball, past and present, 
for which task he was well fitted, in view 
of the fact that he could speak from per- 
sonal knowledge of the great ones of the 
past, he having been the official scorer of 
various clubs in the Metropolitan District in the early days of 
the game, including the famous Mutuals in the late '60s. His 
article is, therefore, well worth reproducing here, as it is both 
educational and interesting; and is herewith given in full with 
some additions by the Editor of this History and Records of 
Base Ball^ to bring it up to date : "Since the days 'when father 
was a boy' and the pitchers used the old side-arm underhand 
swing, the seemingly endless battle between the pitcher and the 
batsman has been going on with varying success. As early as 
1876, when the National League was organized, the authorities 
had in mind the curbing of the pitcher. At intervals it was found 
necessary to 

ALLOW THE TWIRLER MORE LATITUDE, 

then to check him once more. Finally came the adoption of the 
foul-strike rule, the rule that kept many a pitcher in the game who 
would have been a *has-been' without it. The great pitchers that 
have used their arms and wits against their foes at the home 
plate since the inauguration of base ball make an imposing array. 
Young Creighton, who pitched for the Excelsiors, of Brooklyn, 
in the early '60s, was the first notable twirler. On October 21, 
1861, Creighton pitched for the picked nine of Brooklyn against 
the picked nine of New York at Hoboken. Brooklyn won by 
18 runs to 6. Creighton died at an early age, as the result of 
over-exertion in running the bases. Following Creighton came 
George Zettlein, of the Atlantics, of Brooklyn; Dick McBride, 
13 



194 RiCHTER*s History and Records of Base Ball 

of the Athletics, of Philadelphia; Asa Brainard, of the Cincin- 
nati Reds, and 'Phony' Martin, of the Eckfords, of Brooklyn. In 
1867 Arthur 'Candy' Cummings pitched for the Stars, of Brook- 
lyn. By common consent Cummings is given the credit of being 
the original curve pitcher. Cummings is now living in Massa- 
chusetts. He has newspaper clippings, published in 1867, de- 
scribing the curve. It was said the ball took a peculiar twist to 
deceive the batsman. 'He used a peculiar motion of the wrist 
that put English on the ball,' said one critic. 

SPALDING A PITCHING PIONEER. 

A. G. Spalding, one of the greatest pitchers of his time, came 
to the front in 1867, when he pitched for the Forest Citys, of 
Rock ford, 111. In that year the Western tour of the Nationals, 
of Washington, revived interest in base ball that had been dor- 
mant since the Civil War. The Nationals played the Forest Citys 
and were beaten by 29 runs to 23. The next day they played 
the Excelsiors, of Chicago, who had beaten the Forest Citys by 
45 to 41 and 28 to 25. The 'dope' made the Chicago team con- 
fident of beating the Nationals, but the Washington boys beat 
them by 49 runs to 4. Their supporters won more than enough 
money on the game to pay the expenses of the entire trip. The 
great pitchers in 1876, the first year of the National League, were 
Spalding, Cummings, 'Bobby' Matthews, of the Mutuals, of New 
York, and George W. Bradley. Chicago won the pennant with 
Spalding as boxman. Bradley had the best record of the season, 
so far as figures went. The average of earned runs against him 
was only 1-12 to a game. He pitched for St. Louis. In 1877 
Tommy Bond, who had been the best amateur pitcher in Brook- 
lyn, and Will White, who wore spectacles when pitching, joined 
the Boston Club. The battery of Bond and Snyder was one of 

THE FAMOUS ONES IN THOSE DAYS. 

Larkin, of the Hartford Club, ranked as the star pitcher of 
the league, with the best record. In 1878 the 'Only Nolan,' of the 
Indianapolis team, was the most prominent pitcher, but he was 
hard to handle and was suspended by his club. John Mont- 
gomery Ward joined the Providence Club in this season and 
pitched himself into prominence. In 1879 Ward was the star 



The Great Pitchers 195 

of the league and pitched the Providence Club into the champion- 
ship, to the surprise of the base ball public. Jim McCormick, of 
Cleveland, came to the front in this year. The year of 1880 was 
a great one for the pitchers. Larry Corcoran and Fred Gold- 
smith did great work for Chicago, the pennant- winner. 'Smiling 
Mickey' Welch flashed to the front, pitching for Troy. The sea- 
son's sensation was Lee Richmond, of Worcester, a former Brown 
University player, who pitched on July 12 the first no-hit, no-run, 
game, in which not a Cleveland player reached first base. Rich- 
mond's work brought forth columns of discussion as to why a 
left-hander should be harder to bat than a right-hander. 

WARD WAS RICHMOND'S RIVAL. 

John M. Ward duplicated Richmond's feat five days later, when 
he shut out Buffalo without a hit or a run, not a Buffalo player 
reaching first base. Charley Radbourn's star arose in 1881. He 
made the best record of the year with Providence. Chicago, with 
Corcoran and Goldsmith doing the slab work, again won the pen- 
nant. In this year the pitchers were put back to 50 feet instead 
of 45 from the home plate and the pitcher's box was reduced to six 
feet by four, instead of six feet square. Jimmy Galvin, with 
Buffalo, began his ten years' service as a star pitcher. In 1882 
Corcoran led the League pitchers. At Detroit George Weid- 
man came to the front. He pitched against John Ward in the 
i8-inning, i-o, game won by Providence, Radbourn winning the 
game with a home-run drive. 'Jim' Whitney and Charley Buf- 
fington won the pennant for Boston in 1883. Buffington's drop 
ball became famous. It was an innovation, and many fans 
traveled miles to see what a drop ball worked like. McCor- 
mick led the pitchers that year, not only in average of earned 
runs, but also in average of base hits made off his delivery. 
Charley 

RADBOURN WAS THE UNDISPUTED STAR 

of the season of 1884. John Ward had joined the Giants in 
1883, and Charley Sweeney deserted Providence in mid-season. 
Radbourn was the team's only pitcher. He jumped in and won 
18 straight games, a record that had never been equaled by any 
pitcher up to that time. Radbourn's gameness won the flag for 
Providence. In this year Charley Ferguson made his debut 



196 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

with the Philadelphia Club. He was not only a great pitcher, 
but a fine all-around player as well. Ferguson played with the 
Phillies until 1887, when he died suddenly. Ferguson has a 
record of pitching two games in one day and winning both of 
them. Two of the greatest pitchers the game has ever known 
came into the League in 1885. They were John Clarkson, with 
Chicago, and Tim Keefe, with New York. They were the stars 
of the league until 1890, and many an argument did the fans have 
over their respective merits. Keefe won 19 straight games for 
New York in 1888. It never has been settled who was the 'King 
of Pitchers' in those days. Clarkson was sold to Boston in 1888 
for $10,000. In 1889 he showed his worth by pitching y2 games 
for his team, of which 46 were victories. In 1886 Charley Getzein, 
of Detroit, made his bow in fast company and helped the Wolver- 
ines to finish a close second to Chicago. He was the star of 1887 
when Detroit won the pennant. 

rusie makes his bow. 

The year of 1889 marked the coming into the League of Amos 
Rusie, destined to become the greatest pitcher of them all. 
Rusie began his career with the Indianapolis Club. He pitched 
his first game against Cleveland and did so poorly that Frank 
Bancroft, who was managing the team, sent him home the same 
night. John T. Brush, who owned the Indianapolis Club, had 
faith in Rusie and kept him at work. In 1890 Rusie came to 
New York and was the 'King of Pitchers' until 1894. Rusie's 
superiority lay in his ability to throw a fast curve ball, he excel- 
ling any pitcher that ever lived in this respect. Dissipation 
ruined this great pitcher, and he is now working as a day laborer 
in Indiana. 

young's unequaled record. 

In striking contrast to Rusie's career is that of Cy Young, 
who came into the League in 1890. Young was pitching for a 
team in Canton, O., when the Cleveland Club purchased his 
release in August for $200. In his first game he shut out the 
heavy-hitting Chicago team, letting them down for three scat- 
tered hits. Young this season will begin his eighteenth year in 
major league ball. (That was in 1908. He retired after 1912 
with an unequaled record of 22 consecutive years of major 



The Great Pitchers 197 

le?igue service. — Editor.) In that time he had played with three 
clubs, Cleveland, St. Louis and Boston. Kid Nichols was another 
product of 1890, when he began pitching for the Boston Club. 
For 12 years he was the mainstay of the team in the pitcher's 
box. He helped Boston win five pennants — in 1891, 1892, 1893, 
1897 and 1898. Young is the only pitcher who began in the 
Brotherhood year of 1890 who was still in harness twenty years 
after. Other veterans of the '90s still in the American 
League are Clark Griffith, of New York, who joined the Chicago 
team in 1903, and Frank Donahue, who was with the Giants for 
a while in the same year. Chick Frazer, of Chicago, and Al 
Orth, of the Highlanders, broke into the National League in 

1896, Frazer with Louisville and Orth with Philadelphia. Jesse 
Tannehill was with Cincinnati in 1896 and went to Pittsburgh 
in 1897. Jack Powell, of St. Louis, broke in with Cleveland in 

1897. Cy Seymour was also a product of 1897. Cy had every- 
thing any pitcher had except control. But the star of the 1897 
crop of twirlers 

WAS THE ONLY 'rUBE' WADDELL. 

He joined the Louisville team in August. He did not do well 
and was farmed out for a season, going back to Louisville in 
1899. 'Rube' holds several records, one as a jumper from club to 
club, another as the premier strike-out artist of the base ball 
world, and still another as the most eccentric pitcher of major 
league record. Joe McGinnity dropped in with Baltimore in 
1899. The 'Iron Man' earned his cognomen in 1900, when he 
pitched the Brooklyn Club into the championship. McGinnity 
holds a record that has never been threatened of pitching three 
double-headers in one season and winning all the games. Two 
more of the greatest pitchers in the history of base ball came out 
in 1900. They are 'Happy Jack' Chesbro, with Pittsburgh, and 

CHRISTY MATHEWSON WITH THE GIANTS. 

Chesbro helped the Pittsburgh Pirates to win the 1901 and 1902 
championships, and then joined the Highlanders. In 1904 he 
made the much-discussed 'spit-ball' famous. At that time Ches- 
bro said the 'spit-ball is here to stay,' and it is. Nowadays there 
is hardly a pitcher in either league who does not use what Mike 
Donlin called 'the spitter.' Mathewson pitched only two games in 



198 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

1 90 1 and lost both of them. It was in 1902 he made his mark 
and saved the National League from a disastrous season. 
Through 'Matty's' great work the Giants remained in the race 
up to July I. He was the star pitcher of the country up to the 
end of 1905, when he shut out the Athletics three times in the 
world's championship series. In 1906 Ed Reulbach, of the 
Chicago Cubs, led the National League pitchers, and Eddie Plank, 
of the Athletics, figured as the star of the American League." 

greatest work in national league. 

Since the above was written Mathewson has continued on 
his winning way, has proven the mainstay of the New York 
Giants year after year, has assisted them in the winning of three 
successive National League championships, and has been their 
mainstay in three World's Series. And with all of this strenu- 
ous work Mathewson, at this writing (1913), is still in the ring 
after 12 years of continuous service as one of the greatest pitch- 
ers of this generation — and as the only man with a chance of 
equaling Cy Young's world's record for continuous service. 
Other great National League pitchers developed since 1908 — 
when Mr. Rankin's article was written — were Mordecai Brown, 
of the Chicago team ; Rucker, a southpaw, of the Brooklyn team ; 
Alexander and Seaton, of the Philadelphia team; Tesreau and 
Marquard (the latter a southpaw), of the New York team, who 
in 1912 tied Keefe's great record of 19 successive victories; 
Adams and Camnitz, of Pittsburgh; and Sallee (a southpaw), 
of St. Louis. 

GREAT AMERICAN LEAGUE PITCHERS. 

In the American League since 1908 a host of splendid young 
pitchers have been developed, but three veterans have stood out 
conspicuously down to the end of 19 13, namely, southpaw Plank, 
and Bender, the Indian, of the Athletics, who were the winning 
pitchers in the 19 13 World's Series ; and "Iron Man" Jack Coombs, 
of the same team. Next to this great trio two young pitchers 
stood out as superlatively great, namely, the "King of Spitters," 
Ed Walsh, of Chicago, who won the World's Championship for 
the Chicago American League team in 1896, and has kept his 
team in the running year after year ever since; and Walter 
Johnson, of Washington, who in point of natural ability is con- 



The Great Pitchers 199 

sidered the greatest pitcher of this time, and in point of physique 
and style of pitching, seems to have a fair chance of equaling 
Young's world record for length of continuous service. In addi- 
tion to this superlatively great quintet of pitchers, the American 
League within five years has been able to boast of really great 
pitchers in Collins and Wood, of Boston; Ford, of New York; 
Groom, of Washington ; White and Russell, of Chicago, in addi- 
tion to Ed Walsh; Gregg, of Cleveland, a wonderful southpaw, 
in addition to the late Addie Joss, who has two no-hit games to 
his credit; Donovan and Mullin, of Detroit, the latter also a no- 
hit performer ; and Powell and Hamilton, of St. Louis. 

THE ""spit-ball"^ NOT MODERN. 

Apropos to the "spit-ball," at which Ed Walsh, of Chicago, 
was so signally successful that he found a host of more or less 
successful imitators, that delivery has been considered a modern 
delivery, a minor league pitcher named Stricklett being cred- 
ited with its discovery in the late '90s. As a matter of fact 
the delivery is not more modern than the curve ball. "Phoney" 
Martin, of New York, a noted pitcher of the early days of the 
game, who at this writing is still living, declares that Bobby 
Matthews not only pitched the curve ball almost as soon as its 
discoverer, Arthur Cummings, but that he had a ball that no other 
pitcher of the period possessed, which was in effect what is now 
known as the "spitter." Of this, at the time, unique ball Martin 
said recently: 

"I was pitcher and captain of the old Eckfords in 1868, when we 
took a trip to Baltimore to play the Lord Baltimores, then a famous club. 
Bobby Matthews was pitching for the Baltimores at the time and well can 
I remember the sensation he occasioned. We managed to beat the Balti- 
mores the first game, but they put it all over us the second game, and all 
because of Matthews' pitching, which was a revelation to us, and we 
thought we knew about everything about base ball there was going. 
Matthews rubbed the ball with his hands and kept one side of it perfectly 
white, then he would moisten it with his fingers and let it go. The ball 
not only would take a decided out curve at times but at other times would 
drop and curve in, the exact counterpart, in fact, of Christy Mathewson's 
famous fadeaway of the present day. You may not believe it, but I know 
I am right, for I saw it. Reports of the game in the newspapers, clip- 
pings o'f which I now have, will bear me out, too. Why, Matthews beat 
the old Kekiongas, a very great team at that time, by a score of 1 to 0, 
and the ball, mind you, in those days was the old lively one with a full 
ounce of rubber in the center. Matthews, too, pitched underhand, as the 
rules called for at that time, not the overhand throw as now allowed.'* 

Martin's statement is quite credible inasmuch as the author 
of this History and Records of Base Ball saw Bobby Mat- 



2QO Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

thews, then approaching the "sere and yellow leaf" of his pitch- 
ing life, wet the ball many times while pitching for the 
Athletics in 1883-84. Bobby Matthews, although a star in 1868, 
was also a star in 1883, when the Athletics, of Philadelphia, won 
the American Association championship, virtually by reason of 
Matthews' grand work in the box, "Jumping Jack" Jones, a 
Yale man, joined the Athletics about mid-season of that year, 
and got much undeserved credit for winning the pennant, but 
to Bobby Matthews belonged the halo. So, for 15 years Bobby 
Matthews was a star. Surely, a wonderful little man. He died 
in Baltimore, April 17, 1898, and is now at rest in that city, 
where he was born. It is quite a coincidence that one of the 
greatest pitchers of the formative period of base ball should be 
named Matthews, and one of the greatest pitchers of the modern 
era should bear the name of Mathewson! 




BASE BALL CLASSICS 

®too ^urelp PasJe ?8aU ^oemg tKIiat ?|ai3e Won €ntrur= 
ins jf ame asf 3IIus;tratitie at ^U ^Ijasfes; of tfje (great i9a= 
tional ^port anb of 3t2( €ffect ®[pon M^nv^ ^vih ^atronsf. 

ASE BALL is a game that lends itself 
readily to sentiment, emotion, enthusiasm 
and ideaHsm; because, being typical of a 
race, it responds to all of the mental at- 
tributes and characteristics of that race; 
and therefore it is capable of appeal 
through the mind and heart as well as 
through the senses. The National Game 
has therefore not only created a literature of its own, but it has 
inspired the poets, romancers and wits of two generations to 
literary efforts of many kinds and various degrees of excellence, 
some of the highest order. There have been countless witty, 
pathetic, or sentimental stories written about the game itself 
and about its heroes — and there is no sport that so much inspires 
hero-worship, or makes heros of greater mould than Base Ball. 
Particularly does Base Ball lend itself to poetry, and in this field 
so many excellent lines have been written and published within 
the past forty years, that it seems invidious to select any one of 
these efforts as superior. Nevertheless, there is one that has 
appealed beyond all others to the public imagination, one that 
has been conned by millions of boys and young men, that has been 
recited on every stage and rostrum, and in probably every school- 
house, in the country since its initial publication in 1888. That 
one is the famous "Casey at the Bat," which has, by common con- 
sent, become accepted as the classic of base ball poetry. It is 
therefore fitting that it should have a permanent place in the 
archives of the great game, hence its reproduction here. 

Second in merit and popularity only to Mr. Thayer's 
"Casey at the Bat" is a companion piece, entitled "Casey's Re- 
venge," written eighteen years later by one of the most gifted poets 
and ablest commentators upon the game of the latest generation, 
Mr. Grantland Rice, a Southern writer now domiciled in New 
York. Mr. Rice's poem therefore deserves a place with the 
original classic within the covers of this History and Records 
OF Base Ball. The original and companion pieces follow : 



202 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

€a^tv at tfte Pat 

BY ERNEST L. THAYER, 1888. 

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day ; 
The score stood four to two with but one inning more to play. 
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same, 
A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game. 

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest 
Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast; 
They thought if only Casey could but get a whack at that — 
We'd put up even money now with Casey at the bat. 

But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake, 

And the former was a lulu and the latter was a cake ; 

So upon the stricken multitude grim melancholy sat, 

For there seemed but little chance of Casey's getting to the bat. 

But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all, 

And Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball ; 

And when the dust had lifted and the men saw what had occurred. 

There was Johnny safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third. 

Then from 5,000 throats and more there rose a lusty yell ; 
It rambled through the valley, it rattled in the dell ; 
It knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat, 
For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat. 

There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place ; 
There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face. 
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat. 
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat. 

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt; 
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt. 
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip, 
Defiance gleamed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip. 

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air, 
And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there. 
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped — 
"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one," the umpire said. 

From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar. 
Like the beating of the storm waves on a stern and distant shore. 
"Kill him ! Kill the umpire !" shouted some one in the stand ; 
And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand. 

With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone ; 
He stilled the rising tumult ; he bade the game go on ; 
He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the spheroid flew ; 
But Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said, "Strike two." 

"Fraud," cried the maddened thousands, and the echo answered fraud ; 
But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed. 
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain, 
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again. 

The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate; 
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate. 
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go, 
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow. 

Oh ! somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright ; 
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light. 
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; 
But there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out. 



Base Ball Classics 203 

BY GEANTLAND EICE, 1906. 

There were saddened hearts in Mudville for a week or even more; 
There were muttered oaths and curses — every fan in town was sore. 
"Just think," said one, "how soft it looked with Casey at the bat, 
And to think he'd go and spring a bush league trick like that." 

All his past fame was forgotten — he was now a hopeless "shine" — 
They called him "Strike-out Casey" from the Mayor down the line ; 
And as he came to bat each day his bosom heaved a sigh, 
While a look of hopeless fury shone in Casey's eye. 

He soon began to sulk and loaf — his batting eye went lame; 

No home runs on the score card now were chalked against his name. 

The fans without exception gave the manager no peace, 

For one and all kept clamoring for Casey's quick release. 

The lane is long, some one has said, that never turns again. 
And Fate, though fickle, often gives another chance to men ; 
And Casey smiled — his rugged face no longer wore a frown — 
The pitcher who had started all the trouble came to town. 

All Mudville had assembled — ten thousand fans had come 
To see the twirler who had put big Casey on the bum ; 
And when he stepped into the box the multitude went wild. 
He doffed his cap in proud disdain — but Casey only smiled. 

"Play ball !" the umpire's voice rang out — and then the game began ; 
But in that throng of thousands there was not a single fan 
Who thought that Mudville had a chance, and with the setting sun 
Their hopes sank low — the rival team was leading "four to one." 

The last half of the ninth came round with no change in the score, 
But when the first man up hit safe the crowd began to roar; 
The din increased — the echo of ten thousand shouts was heard 
When the pitcher hit the second and gave "four balls" to the third. 

Three men on base — nobody out — three runs to tie the game ! 

A triple meant the highest niche in Mudville's hall of fame ; 

But here the rally ended and the gloom was deep as night. 

When the fourth one "fouled to catcher" and the fifth "flew out to right." 

A dismal, groaning chorus came — a scowl was on each face — 
When Casey walked up, bat in hand, and slowly took his place. 
His bloodshot eyes in fury gleamed — his teeth were clenched in hate; 
He gave his cap a vicious hook and pounded on the plate. 

The pitcher smiled and cut one loose — across the plate it sped — 
Another hiss — another groan — "Strike one," the umpire said. 
Zip ! Like a shot the second curve broke just below his knee — 
"Strike two !" the umpire roared aloud — but Casey made no plea. 

No roasting for the umpire now — his was an easy lot; 

But here the pitcher whirled again — was that a rifle shot? 

A whack — a crack — ^and out through space the leather pellet flew — 

A blot against the distant sky — a speck against the blue. 

Above the fence in centre field in rapid whirling flight 
The sphere sailed on — the blot grew dim and then was lost to sight; 
Ten thousand hats were thrown in air — ten thousand threw a fit — 
But no one ever found the ball that mighty Casey hit. 

Oh ! somewhere in this favored land dark clouds may hide the sun. 
And somewhere bands no longer play and children have no fun; 
And somewhere over blighted lives there hangs a heavy pall ; 
But Mudville hearts are happy now — for Casey hit the ball. 



PART III. 

latDSi, ^la|>ing i^ulesf, anb ^ersfonalftiesi of 
$rofes;s;ional Pas^e PaO 




A. G. Mills 

Third President of the National League and Author of the 
First National Agreement 




ORGANIZED BASE BALL 

®fje Snception, ^rosres^sf anb Culmination at tfte Wvtmm= 
bousi labor of jrortj»=®ttJO l^earsJ to iHafee tije (game ^p^= 
tematic, Stable anb ^rosfperousi on ^rof es(2(ional pas^fe ^p 
Hegfelation anb "^isorousf glbminfetratibe ^psJtemsf. 

HE system known as modern "organized 
Base Ball" is the expression of the hopes 
and aspirations of two generations of base 
ball men; and the consummation of the 
labors and struggles of five decades to 
place professional Base Ball upon solid 
and enduring basis, to widen its scope to 
the largest possible national extent, and 
to make it the typical and representative sport of the American 
people. It is in essence a vast system for the conservation and 
protection of capital, for the steady and lucrative employment 
of labor as represented in the person of the ball player, and for 
the maintenance of the absolute integrity of the sport alike in its 
organization, its legislation, and its exposition — and in all of 
these aspects it lives up to its ideals and fulfills its purposes to 
a degree unexampled in the history of the sport of any nation 
since the dawn of civilization. Moreover, in respect of equitable 
adjustment of the relations between capital and labor it has not 
its equal in any sphere of business activity. 

THE PROFESSIONAL PHASE OF BASE BALL 

was first distinctly brought before the American public by the 
city of Cincinnati and the late Harry Wright, through the medium 
of the Cincinnati Reds, of 1868-69 — a team composed wholly 
and frankly of salaried players, in marked contrast to the other 
leading base ball teams of the country which were allegedly 
amateurs, but actually semi-professionals. The brilliant artistic 
success of the Cincinnati team developed such wide professional 
emulation that within a short time all of the leading teams of the 
East and Middle West became frankly professional. This led 
to the desire for a distinct professional organization and to the 
formation of the Professional Association of Base Ball Players 
of America in 1871, whose career is elsewhere told in this 



2o8 ' Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

History. This was the first league to play under a recognized 
code of uniform rules, and a regular championship schedule. 
This was the beginning of base ball organization and from that 
remote day to the present time the struggle for perfect organiza- 
tion has never ceased despite tremendous obstacles and many 
discouraging setbacks. The Professional Association was con- 
ducted chiefly by the players and soon became so honeycombed 
with corrupt practices and so demoralized by insubordination, 
contract-breaking, and kindred evils that it fell of its own weight 
within five years. Then the 

NATIONAL LEAGUE WAS ORGANIZED 

Upon a new basis, namely, club control of the players and 
absolute protection of territory for the club members. Upon this 
basis the new league, which now had the field to itself, grad- 
ually established itself upon solid basis. Within two years pool 
and individual gambling in base ball were stamped out by 
severe measures rigidly maintained. Contract- juggling was still 
a bar to complete success until 1879, when Mr. A. H. Soden, of 
Boston, introduced and secured the adoption of a limited Reserve 
Rule, under which each club could reserve five players for the 
ensuing season. This reserve rule remained in force until 1882, 
inclusive. With a steady revival of interest in the sport all over 
the country came the entrance of a new league into the base ball 
field in the American Association, in whose organization in 1882 
Cincinnati again played a conspicuous part. The National 
League refused to recognize the new league and the result was 
a raid upon National League players, which led to a truce in the 
Winter of 1882-83, and the formulation of 

THE FIRST NATIONAL AGREEMENT 

by President A. G. Mills, of the National League, who had just 
succeeded President Hulbert, deceased, who was the original 
organizer of the National League. This document was called 
the Tripartite Agreement, the parties thereto being the National 
League, the American Association, and the Northwestern League, 
which happened to be the only important minor league in exist- 
ence at that time. This agreement was administered by an 
"Arbitration Committee" consisting of the three league presi- 



Organized Base Ball 209 

dents. Under this agreement rules were adopted for the restraint 
of players, and the prevention of contract-breaking by players 
of the leagues party to this agreement; and each club was 
empowered to reserve eleven players, at a salary of not less than 
$1000, for the ensuing season, players released from reservation 
being ineligible to contract with any club within 20 days of their 
release. This agreement also awarded absolute jurisdiction over 
its own territory to each club at all times except during Novem- 
ber, when a club could resign from one league to enter another, 
carrying with it its players and territory. Herewith is given the 
full text of the first National Agreement : 

Ageeement Among National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, 

American Associatlon of Base Ball Clubs, Northwestern 

League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, 1883. 

The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, the American 
Association of Base Ball Clubs, and the Northwestern League of Base 
Ball Clubs, in consideration of the mutual advantages to be derived there- 
from, agree each with the other, as follows : — 

First. — The players named in the lists hereto attached shall be 
deemed to be players in good standing, in their respective clubs as named 
in said lists, until November first, unless sooner expelled or released, as 
hereinafter provided, and no club member of either of the parties hereto 
shall contract with, or employ, either of said players for any period prior 
to the said November first, 1883, unless said player be duly released, and 
notice thereof given, as hereinafter provided. 

Second. — Any player not named on the lists hereto attached, or who 
was not prior to January first, 1883, expelled, or suspended for the season 
of 1883, by either of the parties to this agreement, who shall be employed 
for the season of 1883, or any part thereof, by any club member of either 
of the parties hereto, shall be deemed and held to be a player in good stand- 
ing, of such club, for any term of service terminating by November first, 
1883, that may be stipulated in his contract of employment, provided that 
written notice of such contract, in accordance with the rules of the Asso- 
ciation to which the contracting club belongs, shall be filed with the Secre- 
tary of such Association, and communicated by him in writing to the Sec- 
retaries of the other two Associations, by whom such notice shall in turn 
be served upon the clubs composing such other two Associations, and, on 
receipt o'f such notice, every club member of all the parties hereto, except- 
ing the contracting club, shall be debarred from employing or playing the 
said player at any time prior to the expiration of the said term of service, 
excepting as hereinafter provided. 

Third. — When a player is expelled, or suspended, in accordance with 
its rules by either of the parties hereto, notice of such expulsion, or sus- 
pension, shall be served upon the Secretaries of the other two Associations 
by the Secretary of the Association from whose club such players shall 
have been expelled or suspended, and the Secretaries of such other two 
Associations shall, forthwith, serve notice of such expulsion or suspension, 
upon the club members of such other two Associations, and, from the 
receipt of such notice, all club members of all the parties hereto, shall be 
debarred from employing, or playing, with, or against, such expelled, or 
suspended, player until the period of suspension shall have terminated, or 
the expulsion be revoked by the Association 'from which such player was 
expelled, and due notice of such revocation served upon the Secretaries of 
the other two Associations, and by them upon their respective clubs. 

Fourth. — No contract shall be made for the services of any player, by 

any club member of either of the parties hereto, for a longer period than 

seven months, beginning April first and terminating October thirty-first, 

in each year, and no such contract for services to be rendered after the 

14 



210 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

expiration of the present year shall be made prior to the tenth day of 
October, of each year, nor shall any negotiation be entered into by, or 
between, any club, or agent thereof, with any player for services to be 
rendered in an ensuing year, prior to the said tenth day of October. 

Fifth. — On the twentieth day of September, of each year, each club 
member of the parties hereto shall transmit to the Secretary o'f its Asso- 
ciation a list of names of any players, not exceeding eleven in number, on 
that date under contract with such club, which such club desires to 
reserve for the ensuing year, accompanied by a statement, over the signa- 
ture of the secretary of such club, that such club is willing to pay not less 
than one thousand dollars as the compensation of each player, so reserved, 
in the contract to be made with him for the ensuing season, provided such 
club be a member of the National League, or American Association, and, 
if a member of the Northwestern League, or of an Alliance club of any 
party hereto, seven hundred and fifty dollars, and the secretary of each 
Association shall, on the twenty-fifth day of September, transmit to the 
secretaries o'f the other two Associations, parties hereto, a 'full list of 
players thus reserved. The secretary of each Association shall thereupon, 
on the fifth day of October, transmit to each club member of such Associa- 
tion a full list of all players so reserved by all clubs then composing the 
three Associations, and no club member of either of the parties hereto shall 
have the right to contract, negotiate with, or employ, any player so reserved 
by any other club member of either of the parties hereto, unless the club 
mjember reserving the player shall have notified the secretary of the Asso- 
ciation to which such club member belongs of the release of such player 
from such reservation, and, in case of such release, the secretary of such 
Association shall notify the secretaries of the other two Associations, par- 
ties hereto, and the secretaries of the three Associations shall notify all 
the club members parties hereto of such release, and, on receipt of such 
notice, any club member of the parties hereto will have the right to employ 
the player so released from reservation, provided that twenty days shall 
have elapsed between the release from such reservation before such player 
shall be eligible to contract with another club. 

Sixth. — Any contract between a club member of any of the parties 
hereto and a player, made in accordance with the provisions of this agree- 
ment, shall be deemed valid and binding, and all other clubs shall be 
debarred from employing such player during the period of such contract, 
provided that such contract shall be considered to take effect upon receipt 
of written notice thereof by the club members of the parties hereto, and 
the transmission of such notice by the respective secretaries of the parties 
hereto is hereby made mandatory upon said secretaries, and such notice 
must follow immediately upon receipt of the contracting club's notice to 
the secretary of the Association to which such contracting club belongs. 

Seventh. — Any disputes or complaints arising out of the performance 
of the stipulations of this agreement, and any alleged violations of this 
agreement; also, any question of interpretation of any stipulation of this 
agreement, shall be referred to an Arbitration Committee, to consist of 
three representatives of each party hereto, to be appointed prior to the 
thirty-first day of March, 1883, by the parties hereto; notice of such 
appointment to be served upon the secretaries of each Association, and the 
decision of such Arbitration Committee upon such matters, or any of them, 
shall be final and binding upon the parties hereto. 

In witness whereof the said parties have, by the President of each of 
the parties hereto, thereunto duly authorized, signed this agreement on the 
dates set opposite their respective signatures. 

The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, March 5th, 1883, 
by A. G. Mills, President. 

The American Association of Base Ball Clubs, March 12th, 1883, by 
H. D. McKnight, President. 

The Northwestern League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, February 
17th, 1883, by Elias Matter, President. ^y^ 

In 1884, when the outlaw Union Association was started 
ostensibly to wage war on the Reserve Rule, the Tripartite 
Agreement was maintained as the "National Agreement," the 



Organized Base Ball 211 

new Eastern League joining the three original parties to the 
compact. In 1885 the National Agreement was again renewed, 
four new minor leagues — the Southern, New York, New Eng- 
land and Canadian — coming under protection, but without privi- 
lege of reservation. In 1886 the National League and American 
Association devised 

A NEW NATIONAL AGREEMENT^ 

with themselves as parties of the first part ; and a supplementary 
agreement was made, styled "Articles of Qualified Admission 
to the National Agreement" for the protection of minor leagues, 
without privilege of reservation, however; whereas, the two 
major leagues increased their limit of reservation from 11 men 
to 12 men per club. In 1887 the limit of reservation per club 
was increased to 14 men. In 1888 the major leagues granted 
the minor leagues of qualified admission the privilege of reserv- 
ing 14 players per club upon payment of $2000 for eight-club 
leagues, $1500 for six-club leagues, and $1000 for four-club 
leagues. There were no further changes in the National Agree- 
ment — except,, that the Arbitration Committee was increased to 
six members, three from each major league — until after the war 
of 1890 with the Players' League. In the year 1891, after the 
Players' League had been absorbed by the National League, that 
organization entered into a new National Agreement with the 
resuscitated American Association and the Western Association, 
which was short-lived, as the American Association, in the 
Spring, withdrew from the new agreement. The war that ensued 
during the 1891 season led to the consolidation of the 

NATIONAL LEAGUE AND AMERICAN ASSOCIATION 

into the 12-club National League and the formulation of a new 
National Agreement upon lines which foreshadowed the present 
agreement. Its administration was entrusted to a body called 
the National Board, consisting of N. E. Young, Zack Phelps and 
L. C. Krauthoff; the minor leagues were for the first time 
divided into classes A and B, with right of reservation of 14 
players, and the present system of drafting players was estab- 
lished, the major leagues drafting from Classes A and B, and 
Class A drafting from Class B. This National Agreement 



212 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

remained in force and use until 1901, when the American League 
withdrew from its protection, expanded Eastward, and engaged 
in a two-years' battle with the National League for territory and 
players. In the height of the battle in 1901, the National League 
abrogated the National Agreement, leaving the minor leagues 
prey to both of 

the warring major leagues. 

The minor leagues in the Fall of 1901 met in New York and in 
self-protection organized a National Association, with ten 
leagues comprising the membership, and formulated their own 
National Agreement, under which they weathered the second 
year of the major league war in 1902 fairly well. In the Winter 
of 1902-03 the warring majors proclaimed a truce, during which 
a joint meeting was held at New York, January -9-10, 1903, at 
which what is known as the Cincinnati Peace Treaty was signed. 
This provided for a suspension of hostilities, the recognition of 
each league's right to players then under contract or reservation, 
the obligation to formulate a new National Agreement, and the 
preservation of the status quo pending the framing of the new 
compact. The new National Agreement was formulated at a 
meeting held in Buffalo, August 25, 1903, by the National League 
and American League and the National Association of Minor 
Leagues. At a subsequent meeting held in Cincinnati, Septem- 
ber II, after certain amendments satisfactory to the minor 
leagues were made, 

the new agreement was adopted 

and signed by the National League and American Association 
as parties of the first part, and the National Association of 
Minor Leagues as party of the second part. This new agree- 
ment was a vast improvement over all preceding agreements, 
though retaining the most salient features, inasmuch as it pro- 
vided a strong government in commission form, afforded the 
greatest possible opportunities for the advancement and protec- 
tion of all ball players, gave the National Commission original 
jurisdiction over all players, and yet accorded the National Asso- 
ciation reasonable control of its players, and absolute control of 
its internal affairs. It also defined definitely the territory of 
each major league, established the best system for player promo- 




August Herrmann 



President Cincinnati Club, and Chairman of the 
National Commission 



Organized Base Ball 213 

tion yet devised, and created a court of appeal for leagues, clubs 
and players of every grade. This National Agreement worked 
splendidly on the whole, but some abuses growing out of unlim- 
ited reservation crept in and gradually led to such increase in 
farming and covering up of minor league players, to ever- 
growing dissatisfaction, both in the major leagues and the high- 
est-class minor leagues, that a radical revision of the clauses 
relating to reservation, purchases and drafts of players became 
necessary and were finally made after long consideration and 
much labor, the result being the adoption of the present Revised 
National Agreement, which went into effect on July 20, 191 2. 

SALIENT FEATURES OF THE AGREEMENT. 

We herewith present an editorial and synopsis of the Agree- 
ment, together with the full text of the Revised National Agree- 
ment, which went into force and effect on July 20, 1912, and is 
now the fundamental law of the National Game. In an editorial 
on the new National Agreement, Sporting Life said : 

"The new National Agreement is the best base ball document ever 
drawn. It is built upon broad, generous, and just lines. It embraces every 
constituent part of organized base ball ; embodies all of the experience of 
three decades ; expresses the ideas of all the master minds o'f base ball ; 
broadly recognizes the mutuality o'f the interests of capital and labor ; and 
completely justifies its assumption of the guardianship of the National 
Game by subordinating all parties in interest to a common level as the 
servitors of the great American sport. In short, in the preamble, and in 
the body, in every paragraph, clause, and line of the great document there 
shines through the spirit and purpose to make and to keep base ball the 
clean, honest, and permanent National Game of America. 
"the platers benefited. 

"We cannot help but lay great stress upon the exceeding care that has 
been taken of the ball player in the new National Agreement, printed in 
full below. After months of consideration and analysis of all phases of 
the relations between clubs and players an almost perfect system of player 
protection as regards contracts, purchases, and drafts was evolved. The 
player contract is now more mutual, and, therefore, more binding upon 
both parties in interest than ever before ; the sales and draft systems have 
been stripped of their iniquities by a complete system o'f inter-league 
waivers; and every young player called to higher company is now assured 
of at least a partial trial through the 45 days' probationary contract. The 
player is thus assured of his salary under all conditions ; he is assured of 
advancement in his profession through abolishment of the practice of 
returning him to any lower class than the one he came from ; and he is 
now exempt from the abuse of wholesale drafting for purely speculative 
purposes. In short, the ball player will be the best protected and most 
highly cherished individual on earth under the new National Agreement, 
which, in a way, makes him the hub around which the entire base ball 
wheel revolves. 

"eeserve biile legalized. 
"One of the most important provisions of the new National Agreement 
was the incorporation of an article calculated to give a base ball contract 
the legal status and effect it has heretofore lacked. Section 1 of Article 



214 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

VIII provides for the compensation of ball players under their contracts 
for the privilege of reservation. This clause provides that the player's sal- 
ary in the contract shall be specified as 75 per cent, in return for his serv- 
ices as a player and 25 per cent, for the privilege of reserving his services 
for the following season. This gives the contract the heretofore lacking 
mutuality in the matter of player reservation, which has hitherto been a 
purely arbitrary club dictum without consideration to or for the reserved 
party. The National Commission incorporated the new clause bearing 
upon the matter in the new Agreement upon advice of a justice of one of 
the highest judicial tribunals in the land, who is firmly convinced that with 
this clause in the player contract the reservation feature will stand the 
test of judicial scrutiny in any court in this country. 

" WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION. 

"For the revised National Agreement, now officially promulgated and 
in effect at last after herculean labor on the part of the members of the 
National Commission, that body is entitled to the thanks and appreciation 
of everyone connected with base ball in any capacity whatsoever. To all 
of the members of the National Commission a huge task was presented in 
the redrawing of this Agreement to meet all of the conditions ; to take 
into consideration the status of all parties concerned ; and to provide the 
fullest measure of protection for the players without infringing upon or 
injuriously affecting the rights of the club owners. This was a delicate, 
as well as laborious, task ; and a tremendous amount of time, thought, and 
actual work was needed to draft the National Agreement to the satisfac- 
tion of all the parties in interest. No better illustration of the possibili- 
ties of reconciling the interests of capital and labor was ever presented 
than in this revised Agreement, which must ever stand as a monument to 
its framers, Messrs. Herrmann, Johnson and Lynch." 

SYNOPSIS OF NEW AGREEMENT. 
In addition to the full text of the revised National Agreement we give 
herewith a synopsis of the salient features of the new Agreement, with a 
view to ready assimilation of the important changes by the magnates, the 
team managers, the players and the scribes. In the future, neither major 
league will have a separate Rules Committee, but one Rules Committee, 
consisting of three members from each league, will be appointed 
by the National Commission. This is embodied in the revised National 
Agreement. A provision is made that when either league president decides 
a change in the rules is necessary, he will report to the National Commis- 
sion, which will appoint a committee of six men, three from each league, 
to meet not later than October 15. It is intended to bring the Rules Com- 
mittee together around World's Series time, and it was said, that if they 
had any changes to suggest it would give the press all Winter to discuss 
the contemplated reform. 

NO MORE SCHEDULE CiOMMITTEES. 

The method of drawing up the schedules has also been radically 
changed. Under the new National Agreement the section dealing with the 
drafting of the schedules reads as follows : "The respective president of 
each major league shall in person or by proxy annually prepare a schedule 
of games for each major league for the ensuing pennant race, avoiding as 
far as is possible conflicts in cities where rival clubs are located. The 
schedule thus drafted shall be submitted to each major league club owner 
not later than the second week in February of each year, and no alteration 
shall be made in any date or dates allotted therein without the concurrence 
of both major league presidents." This means that the schedule meetings 
in the future will be practically useless and that the magnates will have no 
other purpose in coming to the meeting than to pass the schedule drafted 
by their league president or his official proxy. 

AS TO TERRITORIAL PROTECTION. 

Section 2 of Article V was amended in such a way that there can be 
no possibility of collusion in invasion of protected territory. The new rul- 
ing takes from the clubs of any major league city the right to say whether 
their city may contain a team of another league, and gives that power to 
the league. The following is given as an example of how this new rule 
would work : Under the old state of affairs if the American Association 



Organized Base Ball 215 

could gain the consent of the Cubs and White Sox to put a club in Chicago 
it could go ahead and build a park. Under the Revised National Agree- 
ment, however, the entire American and National Leagues would have to 
give their consent, and if one league objected, the Association would have 
to stay out of Chicago, even if both Chicago major clubs were willing to let 
in a third club. The same section also forbids any team consisting of 
National Agreement players from playing exhibition games in major or 
minor leagues cities without procuring the consent of the club or clubs 
representing those cities. 

THE MINOR CLASSIFICATION. 

The new section, creating Class AA, was passed without any objec- 
tion. This had been practically agreed on for some time, and the Inter- 
national League, American Association and Pacific Coast League were for- 
mally raised to their new status. The section contains a provision that a 
Class AA league must contain a population of 1,750,000 people to draw 
from. It also provides that one player may be drafted annually from a 
Class AA league club, the same as when it was merely in Class A. 

DRAFT RULE CHANGES. 

The new drafting season for the major leagues will be limited to five 
instead of fifteen days, and will begin on September 15. The drafting 
prices have been fixed as follows : Class AA, $2500 ; Class A, $1500 ; 
Class B, $1200 ; Class C, $750 ; Class D, $500. Only one player from each 
club in classes AA and A can be drafted under the new Agreement. 
Another rule is designed to benefit the ball players. It provides for the 
waiving of claims on players not only by both major leagues, but also by 
the minor leagues in turn. If, for instance, a Class D player is not wanted 
in the National League, the American will have a chance to claim him. 
If not, then the classes AA, A, B, C, and finally D. This assures every 
young player at least a chance for a berth in faster or higher company than 
the class for which he was originally selected. 

THE INTER-LEAGUE WAIVERS. 

A provision also has been made which requires inter-league waivers on 
both drafted and purchased players. In the case of a purchased player, the 
two clubs shall negotiate for a suitable waiver price, and if an agreement 
cannot be reached the price will be settled by arbitration, the National 
Commission being the arbitrator. In the case of a drafted player an addi- 
tional amount of $250 has been added to the regular waiver price. This is 
added to cover the expenses of a player on a training trip. 

PROTECTION FOR YOUNGSTERS. 

A new clause has been placed in the National Agreement that a trial 
must be given to every player who is drafted from a minor league by the 
club drafting him. He must have a tryout in the Fall or on the Spring 
training trip. This, it is believed, will do away with clubs acting as brokers 
by drafting minor league players for the purpose of selling them to clubs 
of higher classification. Many clubs have been making much money in this 
manner. It also assures a young recruit a fair tryout. Many of the 
drafted youngsters heretofore never got a chance to show their prowess. 

CONTRACT AND LIMIT POINTS. 

Under the Revised Agreement each major league club is compelled to 
send every player on its reserve list a contract before February 1. For- 
merly a contract had to be sent by March 1. If a player does not receive 
a contract by February 1 he is a free agent. The reconstructed list of the 
number of players each club is permitted to carry is as follows : Major 
league clubs, 35 in the Winter season and 25 in the so-called playing sea- 
son, which lasts from May 15 to August 20. This does not include the 
manager or ineligible players. Minor league clubs : Class AA, 30 and 20 ; 
Class A, 28 and 18 ; Class B, 26 and 16 ; Class C, 24 and 14 ; Class D, 22 
and 14. The Revised Agreement also contains a clause which fixes the 
salary of minor league youngsters who are getting a trial in the fast set. 
For their first 45 days with a major league club they will receive a salary 
not higher than 25 per cent, of what they received in the minors. 



2i6 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



TEXT OF THE NATIONAL AGREEMENT. 

The National Agreement for the Government of Professional Base 
Ball, Entered Into Between the National and American 
Leagues and the National Association, at Cincinnati, September 
11, 1903, as Changed, Revised and in Force July 20, 1912. 

This Agreement made and entered into by and between The National 
League of Professional Base Ball Clubs and The American League of Pro- 
fessional Base Ball Clubs, known and designated herein as Major Leagues, 
parties of the first part, each with the other, and both, jointly and severally, 
with The National Association of Professional Base Ball Leagues known 
and referred to herein as Minor Leagues, party of the second part, shall 
be styled the National Agreement, and shall have for its objects : 

(1) Perpetuation of Base Ball as the national pastime of America, 
by surrounding it with such safeguards as will warrant absolute public con- 
fidence in its integrity and methods, and by maintaining a high standard of 
skill and sportsmanship in its players. 

(2) Protection of the property rights of those engaged in base ball 
as a business without sacrificing the spirit of competition in the conduct 
of clubs. 

(3) Promotion of the welfare of ball players as a class by developing 
and perfecting them in their profession and enabling them to secure ade- 
quate compensation for expertness. 

(4) Adoption of a uniform code of rules for playing base ball. 

article I. 
Section 1. This Agreement shall be indissoluble except by the unani- 
mous vote of the parties to it, and if any of said parties, or a league or 
club member thereof, withdraws from it, or violates any of its funda- 
mental principles, the party so withdrawing or offending shall be treated 
as the enemy of organized base ball. 

ARTICLE II. 

Section 1. Each party to this Agreement retains the right to conduct 
its affairs and govern its players according to its constitution and by-laws, 
not in conflict with its terms and provisions. 

ARTICLE III. 

Section 1. Whenever the Commission certifies to the President of each 
Major League that in its judgment the playing rules require amendment, 
a joint committee of three representatives from each Major League shall 
meet on or before October 15th of the year in which such notice is served 
and adopt a code of rules to regulate the playing of the game of base ball 
•for the ensuing season, a majority vote being required to adopt, revise or 
repeal a rule. All rules now in 'force shall remain in effect until legally 
changed, modified or repealed. 

Sec. 2. The respective presidents of the Major Leagues shall jointly, 
in person, or by proxy, annually prepare a schedule of games for each 
Major League for the ensuing pennant race, avoiding as far as possible 
conflicts in championship games in cities in which rival clubs are located. 
The schedules thus drafted shall be submitted to each Major League not 
later than the second week in February, of each year, and no alterations 
shall be made in any date or dates allotted therein without the concurrence 
of both Major League presidents. 

Sec. 3. Neither Major League shall give instructions to or impose 
restrictions on its representatives on the Committee of Rules or the Com- 
mittee on Schedules as to the manner, methods or limitations under which 
their respective duties shall be discharged. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Section 1. A commission of three members^ to be known as the National 
Commission, is hereby created with power to construe and carry out the 
terms and provisions of this Agreement, excepting when it pertains solely 
to the internal affairs of a party to this Agreement. One member shall 
be the President of the National League and one the President of the 
American League. These two members shall meet on or before the first 
Monday of January in each year and elect by a majority vote a suitable 
person as the third member. The third member so chosen shall be the 



Organized Base Ball 217 

Chairman of the Commission for one year from the date of his election, 
and shall preside at all meetings. Each member shall have a vote on all 
questions which may come before it, except as hereinafter directed. A Sec- 
retary shall be elected yearly. The salary of the Chairman, Secretary and 
of all employees shall be fixed by the Commission from time to time. Other 
members of the Commission shall serve without compensation. Immedi- 
ately after the election of a Chairman and Secretary the Commission shall 
proceed with the transaction of such business as may come before it. 

Sec. 2. Sessions of the Commission, in addition to the annual meet- 
ings on the first Monday in January of each year, and on the first day of 
the drafting period of each year, shall be held at the call of the Chairman, 
or at the request of the other two members of the Commission. 

Sec. 3. The Commission shall have the power to inflict and enforce 
fines or suspensions, or both, upon any party to this Agreement, or any 
of its members, adjudged by it to have violated the letter or spirit of this 
Agreement. 

Sec. 4. Whenever a National League Club and an American League 
Club claim the services of the same player by selection, reservation or con- 
tract, the right to said player shall be established by the decision of the 
Chairman of the Commission, who shall determine the case on the law 
and evidence without the aid of either of his associates. The same pro- 
cedure shall be followed in the determination of any other issue between 
the Major Leagues or between Major League Clubs of different leagues. 

Sec. 5. Whenever a National League Club and a Minor League Club 
cannot amicably arrange differences over a player, the testimony shall be 
heard and the case adjudicated by the Chairman of the Commission and 
the representative of the American League. If the contention be between 
an American League Club and a Minor League Club, the decision shall be 
made by the Chairman of the Commission and the representative of the 
National League. If the Chairman and the Major League member of the 
Commission entitled to vote on any question arising between a Major and a 
Minor League Club shall not agree, the Chairman's finding shall determine 
the case. 

ARTICLE V. 

Section 1. The circuit of each Major League shall consist of the fol- 
lowing cities : National League — Boston, New York, Brooklyn, Philadel- 
phia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati. American League — 
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago 
and St. Louis. Neither Major League circuit shall be changed without the 
consent of the majority of the clubs of each Major League ; nor shall there 
be a consolidation of clubs in any city where two Major Clubs exist ; nor 
shall any club transfer or release its players for the purpose of injuring ot 
weakening the League of which it is a member ; provided, however, that 
the circuit of either Major League may be changed by admitting some other 
city on consent of the majority of the clubs of each Major League. Pro- 
vided, further, that if either of the Major Leagues in changing its circuit 
shall choose a city in which a club of the National Association is located, 
such Major League shall then be required to pay to the League in the 
National Association, of which such city may be a member, the sum of 
$2500. Provided, further, that when a Major League shall change its cir- 
cuit and choose a city in which a club of the National Association is 
located, such club shall be compensated for any assets that it may have 
by the club desiring to locate in such city ; and upon failure of the inter- 
ested clubs to agree upon such compensation, the matter shall be deter- 
mined by arbitration, the arbitration committee to consist of three members, 
one of whom shall be the Chairman of the Commission, one a representative 
of the Major League other than the one desiring to locate in such city, 
and the third a representative of the National Association. The finding 
of a majority of said committee shall be final. 

Sec. 2. The party of the second part hereby guarantees that none of 
the leagues in its membership shall establish or maintain a club in a city 
on the circuit of either Major League, or within five miles of the limits 
thereof, without the consent in writing of the Major League, or leagues, 
having one or more clubs located therein, and recorded in the office of the 
Secretary of the National Commission, Jersey City, excepted. 

Sec. 3. National Agreement players are prohibited from participating 



2i8 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



as individuals or as a team in an exhibition game in a city under protec- 
tion, before, during, or after the playing season of the league entitled to 
that territory, without the consent of the club or clubs representing such 
city. 

ARTICLE VI. 

Section 1. All parties to this Agreement pledge themselves to recog- 
nize the right of reservation and respect contracts between players and 
clubs under its protection. No club operating under this Agreement shall 
at any time negotiate for the purchase or lease of the property of another 
club without first securing the consent of such club. 

Sec. 2. Any club or league which harbors a player who refuses to 
observe his contract with a club member of any party to this Agreement, 
or to abide by its reservation, shall be considered an outlaw organization, 
and its claim to contractual and territorial rights ignored. 

Sec. 3. The right and title of a Major League Club to its players shall 
be absolute and can be terminated only by release, neglect to comply with 
requirements under this Agreement for reservation, or failure to fulfill its 
contractual obligations. When a Major League Club serves notice of uncon- 
ditional release on a player, he shall be ineligible to contract with a club 
df another league, if, during 10 days after service of such notice of release, 
a club of the league in which he is at the time playing shall demand his 
services. 

Sec. 4. The practice of farming is prohibited. All rights or claims 
of a Major League Club to a player, unless it be under an optional agree- 
ment approved by the Commission, shall cease when such player becomes 
a member of a Minor League Club, and no arrangement between clubs foi* 
the loan or return of a player other than by an approved optional agree- 
ment shall be binding between the parties to it, or recognized by other 
clubs. No club shall be permitted to retain control of more than eight 
players under optional agreement during any one season. 

Sec. 5. The National Association shall have the classification of its 
leagues and the adoption of a salary limit for its clubs according to such 
classification, and it agrees to withdraw protection from any league which 
allows any of its clubs to exceed the salary limit prescribed for leagues of 
its classification ; provided, however, that the International League, the 
American Association and the Pacific Coast League shall be "AA" Leagues, 
and no league shall be admitted to this classification in the future unless 
the minimum population of the cities in such league circuit is 1,750,000; 
and provided further, that the National Association shall certify to the 
Commission on or before March 1st of each year, for its approval, the 
team and individual salary limit of each of its leagues. 

Permission in exceptional cases may be secured from the Commission 
to pay salaries in excess of the amounts so certified and approved. 

Sec. 6. The right of a Minor League Club to its players under this 
Agreement shall be absolute except that from September 15th to September 
20th of each year each Major League Club shall have the privilege of 
selecting players from the National Association Clubs for the following 
season upon payment of the following sums : 

$2,500 for each player selected from Class AA. 

1,500 for each player, selected from Class A. 

1,200 for each player' selected from Class B. 

750 for each player selected from Class C. 

500 for each player selected from Class D. 

Payment shall be made in full at the time when the selection is made 
through the Secretary of the Commission to the Secretary of the National 
Association, who shall be required to furnish to the Commission an 
approved bond of the amount of the aggregate draft money of that year, 
for the 'faithful delivery of such draft money to the President of the league 
of which the club or individual entitled to it is a member. Provided, how- 
ever, that before final settlement is made, all valid claims against the club 
or individual entitled to the same shall be deducted from the draft money, 
either by the Secretary of the National Association or said League Presi- 
dent. The Commission is empowered to adopt rules providing for the man- 
ner of determining the title to a player selected by more than one Major 
League Club ; provided, however, that when one or more clubs from each 
Major League files a selection for the same player, it shall first be deter- 



Organized Base Ball 219 

mined by lot which league shall be awarded the preference in his selection. 

The Class AA drafting season shall commence two days after the 
expiration of the Major League drafting season and continue for five days. 
Each classification below Class AA shall be granted five days in which to 
draft players, two days intervening between the period of each classification. 

Clubs of Class AA Leagues shall pay for drafts of players as follows : 

Class A $1,000 

B 750 

C 500 

D 400 

Sec. 7. The sale of the release of a player by a Minor League Club to 
a Major or Minor League Club within twenty days of the commencement 
of or during the drafting period, or within twenty days of the close of the 
season of the club disposing of the player is prohibited. At any other time 
a Major League Club may purchase the release of a player from a Minor 
League Club to take effect at once or at a specified date not beyond the 
beginning of the succeeding season. Provided, however, that if the selling 
club be a member of a league in Class AA, delivery of the player, unless 
he shall have been secured by it under an approved optional agreement 
permitting his retention to the close of the season, must be made forth- 
with. The sale o'f a player's release by one Minor League Club to another 
shall be null and void against the selection of the player by a Major League 
Club from thie selling club, unless he be in the actual service of the pur- 
chasing club for twenty days before the opening of the drafting season 
for Major League Clubs. All purchase agreements, whether for the imme- 
diate or prospective release of a player to which a Major League Club is 
a party, shall be in the form prescribed by the Commission and forwarded 
to its Secretary for record and promulgation within five days after execu- 
tion. Purchase agreements between Minor League Clubs shall be in the 
form adopted by the National Board and filed with the Secretary within 
five days after execution for promulgation. The number of players of a 
National Association Club subject to selection in the same year is fixed 
as follows : By Major League Clubs, one from each Class AA Club, and 
one from each Class A Club ; by Class AA, one from each Class A Club, 
from which a Major League draft for that year was not filed and allowed ; 
and one from each Class B Club ; by Class A Clubs, one from each Class B 
Club. From all other clubs and in all other cases, the number of players 
eligible to draft is unrestricted. 

Sec. 8. Any Major League Club entitled to make selection of a player, 
and desiring to do so, shall between September 15th and September 20th 
notify the Secretary of the National Commission, stating the name of the 
player and of the club to which he is under contract and reservation, and 
inclosing the amount specified in a preceding section to be paid for such 
release by draft. The Secretary shall certify each selection by a Major 
League Club to the Secretary of the National Association, who shall there- 
upon immediately notify the club and league from which such selection is 
made, and shall order the transfer of the player to the selecting club at the 
close of the current season. Such selection and transfer shall thereupon 
be promulgated. 

Sec. 9. A Major League Club shall not be permitted to release a 
selected player until he has been actually in its service before the close of 
the season in which ' he was drafted or during the following training or 
regular season, and then only after waivers to him have been obtained 
from all other Major League Clubs and notice has been received from the 
Secretary of the National Board that no National Association Club has 
claimed him at the draft price. Such notice shall not be valid unless filed 
with the Secretary of the Commission within ten days after notification 
has been served on the Secretary of the National Association of the pur- 
pose of the drafting club to release him. The right to claim such selected 
player at the draft price paid for his release, and on the conditions pre- 
scribed herein, shall be exercised by National Association Clubs in the 
order of their classification, to wit : Class AA, Class A, Class B, Class C 
and Class D, except that a Class A club shall have priority over Class AA 
clubs in claiming a player selected from such Class A club, Class AA to 
have the second claim, and the lower classes in the alphabetical order. 
When more than one club of the same class claims a selected player, the 



220 Richter's History and, Records of Base Ball 

right to his services shall be determined by lot by the Secretary of the 
National Board. Within five days from the receipt of notice that such 
player has been released to it, the check of the claiming club shall be for- 
warded through the office of the Secretary of the National Association to 
the Secretary of the Commission for transmission to the releasing club. 
The club which claims a player selected from it shall be accorded the right 
to recall him over the claims of all other clubs in its own classification. 

Sec. 10. The selection of a player by a Major League Club under an 
arrangement with a Minor League Club for the return of the selected 
player after the expiration of the period of selection shall be void, and the 
Commission shall impose a fine of $500 on each club which becomes a party 
to a conspiracy to prevent a player from advancing in his profession, or in 
any way abuses the privilege of selection. 

Sec. 11. A Major League Club shall not release a player within the 
year of, or before the termination of the season following, his purchase or 
selection from a Minor League Club, until waivers on him have been 
obtained from all other Major League Clubs in accordance with rules of 
the Commission in force at that time. Clubs of the league of the club 
soliciting waivers on such player shall have the preference in his allot- 
ment, and if such player be a purchased player, the club seeking waivers 
may retain him although he be claimed, if within two days after receipt 
of notice of such claim it withdraws its request for waivers. If he be 
a drafted player he shall be at once released to the claiming club adjudged 
to be entitled to him, on payment of the draft price, plus $250. The waiver 
price of a purchased player shall be fixed by negotiations between the inter- 
ested clubs, and in the event of their inability to agree, by the Commis- 
sion, whose decision shall be final. 

Sec, 12. A Major League Club shall have the privilege of cancelling its 
draft of a Minor League player before the expiration of the Major League 
drafting period. 

ARTICLE VII. 

Section 1. On or before the 1st day of October in each year the Sec- 
retary of each party to this Agreement shall transmit to the Secretary of 
the Commission a list of all players under contract to each of its club 
members on that date or at the close of the championship race of its league 
whom such club desires to retain for the following season, together with 
those secured for future service by purchase or draft or while free agents, 
and those under suspension for insubordination or other cause, as well as 
those ineligible for refusal to respect reservation by or contract with such 
club for that or a preceding season. The Secretary of the Commission 
shall thereupon promulgate all of such Major League lists, and the Secre- 
tary of the National Association all such Minor League lists, which con- 
form to the limitation of the reservation privileges of clubs according to 
rank and classification, as shown in Section 3 of Article VII, and no player 
thus promulgated as reserved shall be eligible to contract or play with any 
National Agreement club other than that on whose list his name appears 
as a reserved player until he is regularly released by the reserving club, op 
is legally declared a free agent. 

Sec. 2. No club shall be permitted to reserve a player while in arrears 
of salary to him, and the failure of a club to tender a reserved player a 
contract for the ensuing season by February 1st shall be construed as a 
revocation of its reservation, and shall operate as his unconditional release. 
Provided, however, that if the reserved player shall have been secured by 
a Major League Club from a Minor League Club by purchase or selection 
for future service, the tender of a probationary contract covering the first 
forty-five days of the next playing season, in accordance with Section 1, 
Article VIII, shall protect the reserving club's rights to him. 

Sec. 3. The number of players a Major League Club may have in its 
service and under its control from May 15th to August 20th of each year 
shall not exceed twenty-five. The annual reservation list of a Major 
League Club shall not include more than thirty-five names, exclusive of the 
manager and of the players promulgated as ineligible. No Major League 
Club shall have title to more than thirty-five players at any time exclusive 
of the manager and of the ineligible players, unless this limit be exceeded 
through the exercise of the draft, in which case the excess number of 
players shall be disposed of prior to the filing of the club's reservation list. 



Organized Base Ball 221 

Every Minor League Club is restricted in the number of players, exclu- 
sive of the manager and ineligible players it may have on or with its team, 
as follows : 

Class AA shall not have more than 30 players under contract or reser- 
vation at any time, which number must be reduced to 20 players within 30 
days after the opening of the season to the 25th day of August of each year. 

Class A. For 20 days after opening of season, 28 players; thereafter, 
18 players until August 25th. 

Class B. For 20 days after opening of season, 26 players ; thereafter 16 
players until August 25th. 

Class C. For 20 days after opening of season, 24 players ; thereafter, 14 
players until August 25th. 

Class D. For 20 days after opening of season, 22 players ; thereafter 14 
players until August 25th. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

Section 1. All contracts between clubs and players in the Major 
Leagues shall be in form prescribed by the Commission. All contracts be- 
tween clubs and players in the National Association shall be in form pre- 
scribed by that Association. The compensation of the player, stipulated in 
such contract, shall in explicit terms be apportioned as follows : 75 per 
cent, thereo'f for service rendered and 25 per cent, thereof for and in con- 
sideration of the player's covenant to sanction and abide by his reservation 
by the contracting club for the succeeding season. Unless released before 
its termination in accordance with the provisions of such contract, the 
player, who is a party thereto, shall be entitled to and shall be paid the 
full consideration named therein in regular semi-monthly installments, 
regardless of whether the contracting club exercises the privilege of reserv- 
ing him. Provided, however, that no non-reserve contract shall be entered 
into by any club operating under the National Agreement, until permission 
to do so has been first obtained from the Commission when such contract 
concerns a Major League player, or from the National Board of Arbitration 
of the National Association when such contract concerns a player of that 
organization. In either event, the Secretary of the Commission must be 
immediately notified that such permission has been received, and such con- 
tracts must be at once promulgated by him with the proper notation of 
such permission. Provided, further, that the term of the first contract 
between a Major League Club and a drafted or purchased player shall be 
for 'forty-five days, and such player's salary shall not be over 25 per cent, 
in excess of that paid him by the Minor League from which he was secured, 
the amount to be established by affidavits from him and the president of 
the club from which he was obtained. If the player be not released to a 
Minor League Club on the expiration of the probationary period of forty- 
five days, a regular contract between him and his club fixing his compensa- 
tion at a sum. agreed on by them shall be immediately executed and recorded. 

Sec. 2. Any agreement between club and player for service, evidenced 
by written acceptance, whether by letter or telegram, or receipt from player 
for money advanced to him to bind such agreement, shall be construed to 
be a contract and held to be binding, provided the player declines to enter 
into a formal contract ; but his refusal to sign such formal contract shall 
render him ineligible to play with the contracting club for more than a 
period of ten days, or to enter the service of a club of any party to this 
Agreement unless released. 

Sec. 3. When a player of a Major or Minor League Club shall be 
suspended for a stated period, or indefinitely, in accordance with his con- 
tract and the constitution and by-laws of the league of which his club is 
a member, due promulgation of such disqualification shall be made by the 
President of his league if a Major League player and by the Secretary of 
the National Association if a Minor League player. Such disqualified 
player shall not be eligible to play with or against the club of any party to 
this Agreement until such disqualification shall have been removed and 
notice of such revocation promulgated. 

Sec. 4. In all cases before it for adjudication the Commission shall 
have the right to require affidavits from parties in interest and other wit- 
nesses and may demand the production of documentary evidence. Failure 
to submit a statement, when required, or to furnish testimony under oath 
or affirmation, or documentary evidence by a party in interest, within such 



222 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

time as may be specified by the Chairman of the Commission, shall result 
in the award o'f the case against the delinquent patty, and the infliction of 
such penalty as the Commission may deem adequate. 

Sec. 5. A player suspended by a club or league for a term longer than 
ten days shall have the right of appeal to the Commission, which is given 
authority to order his reinstatement and afford him adequate redress if it 
deems the punishment excessive or not merited. 

ARTICLE IX. 

Section 1. The Secretary of the Commission, who shall act as Treas- 
urer in addition to his other duties, shall furnish a suflicient bond for the 
faithful performance of his duties and the safekeeping of all moneys which 
may come into his custody in the administration of his office. He shall 
keep the minutes of each meeting and preserve a correct record of all con- 
tracts, releases, reservations, selections, suspensions and reinstatements of 
players, and shall provide himself with an official stamp for certifying the 
time of receipt by him of all official documents. 

Sec. 2. On receipt of a notice of selection, he shall note upon it in ink 
the amount of money accompanying it, the date and hour of its arrival, 
and adopt every precaution possible to prevent complications over the pri- 
ority in time of the filing of selections of players by different clubs, and 
the club which first registers its selection of a player with the Secretary, 
as provided herein, shall be entitled to the services of such player. Pro- 
vided, that all drafts for players received by the Secretary of the Commis- 
sion at or before 9 o'clock a. m., of the first drafting day shall be considered 
as having been received at the "same time." Drafts received after that 
time shall be noted as provided in this section, excepting that the time of 
the receipt of a draft by telegram shall be evidenced by receiving time noted 
thereon at the telegraph office. 

Sec. 3. The Chairman shall prepare and promulgate all decisions and 
rulings of the Commission, unless he assigns the duty to another member. 

Sec. 4. The expenses of the Commission, in excess of its revenue from 
games conducted under its auspices and from all other sources shall be 
paid by the Major Leagues, share and share alike. 

Sec. 5. All questions before the Commission may be determined by a 
mail vote of its members. 

ARTICLE X. 

Section 1. Every league shall strictly enforce the provisions in its 
constitution against open betting on its grounds and club officials are 
required to cause the arrest and prosecution of those who engage in the 
practice. 

Sec. 2. No game or series of games shall be played for a stake bytween 
clubs of any party to this Agreement, nor shall any player of a club accept 
or agree to accept a sum of money or present of great value as an induce- 
ment or reward for special effort on his part in winning or trying to win 
a game. 

ARTICLE XI. 

Section 1. The drafting provisions of this Agreement shall not be in 
force or effect until on and after September 15, 1912. 

Original Agreement adopted September 11, 1903. (Amended from time 
to time.) 

The National League op Professional Base Ball Clubs, 

By Thomas J. Lynch, President, 
AND The American League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, 

By B. B. Johnson, President, 
Parties of the First Part; 
The National Associatbon of Professional Base Ball Leagues, 

By M. H. Sexton, President, 
Party of the Second Part. 

THE GOVERNING BODY AND COURT. 

The National Commission was first organized at a meeting 
held in Cincinnati, September 2i, 1903. At this meeting Presi- 
dent Pulliam, of the National League, and President Johnson, 




John E. Bruce 



Secretary-Treasurer of National Base 
Ball Commission 



Organized Base Ball 223 

of the American League, elected August Herrmann, of Cincin- 
nati, and John E. Bruce, also of Cincinnati, respectively as 
chairman and secretary-treasurer of the Commission; and these 
two gentlemen have served from that date to 19 14 without inter- 
ruption and to the complete satisfaction of their colleagues, of 
the leagues parties to the National Agreement, and of the public, 
press and players. Since the organization of the National Com- 
mission, the American League member. President Ban B. John- 
son, has served continuously to date of meeting, in January, 1914. 
For the National League, President Pulliam served until his 
death, in July, 1909. His successor. President John A. Heydler, 
served until the Fall of 1909, when Thomas J. Lynch was elected 
president of the National League, and thereby became a National 
Commission member, serving until the Fall of 1913. In Novem- 
ber, 191 3, Governor John K. Tener, of Pennsylvania, was elected 
to succeed Mr. Lynch in the National League Presidency and as 
a member of the National Commission. In 1910 Mr. Joseph 
Planner, a St. Louis journalist, was appointed Secretary to 
Chairman Herrmann. 

CONVINCING TRIBUTE TO ORGANIZED BALL. 

In concluding this chapter on the fundamental basis of 
organized ball and its wonderfully efficient administrative sys- 
tem, we deem it timely and proper to add a sweeping tribute by 
one who once was a pla3^er of great renown, a power among his 
fellows, and the leader of the revolt of the players against the 
National League in 1890, which caused the most remarkable and 
most costly war in the history of Base Ball — but for which there 
was great subsequent compensation by reason of its convincing 
demonstration of the absolute necessity of a strong system of 
government based upon the Reserve Rule. The occasion that 
elicited this tribute was the introduction of a resolution, in the 
Spring of 191 3, in the House of Representatives, at Washington, 
by an Illinois Congressman named Gallagher, for a Governmental 
investigation of organized ball as a "predacious and mendacious 
trust" under the Sherman anti-trust law. The Gallagher resolu- 
tion created a great deal of excitement and discussion for a time, 
which gradually died away, however, as the Gallagher resolution 
was referred to a committee which pigeonholed it. During the 



224 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

^q) ^ height of the discussion, however, the former Brotherhood 
/ ' leader, John M. Ward, now a practicing lawyer in New York 

City, contributed the following splendid paper on the subject of 

organized ball: 

"base ball a beneficent trust. 

"Mr. Gallagher is correct when he says that Base Ball is now under 
the direction of an autocratic trust, but it is a good thing that it is. I 
think that Congress is no place to discuss Base Ball. The atmosphere is 
not right. The surroundings are not suited for it. Base Ball is the 
National game, but not a subject for national legislation. It cannot be 
successful without organization. The public cares little about the admin- 
istration so long as the game is honestly conducted and it gets a run for 
its interest. It wants to be sure that the contest is a -real one, and it 
insists more every year on having the best players who can be found. Base 
Ball to be a success 

NEEDS FIEM ADMINISTRATION 

and regulation. It is at present a trust, no doubt, but whether it is a 
violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust law is not for me to say in offhand 
opinion. Fifty or so of the ablest lawyers in the country have been work- 
ing on the Sherman Anti-Trust law for several years and they have not 
put over much on, it yet. Much of the discussion these days revolves 
around 'Ty' Cobb. I consider 'Ty' Cobb one of the greatest ball players 
the world has ever seen. At the same time he has a swelled head, largely 
due to the American League. That league has boomed him for several 
years and now his boom has come back as a boomerang. Cobb now con- 
siders that he is a law unto himself. He is being paid now as much as 
any club can afford to pay him. There is a limit to the isize of base ball 
salaries, for the sport will be made so costly if men demand such money 
as he does that the public cannot afford to pay the high admission fees 
which would have to be charged. 

"players NEVER OPPRESSED. 

"In my experience I have never been able to see where ball players 
were oppressed. Organized Base Ball is the strongest trust in the world. 
It maintains strict discipline. It regulates the sport. However, it does 
not corner the necessities of life. It does not affect the high cost of living. 
The home plate would be as bountiful without it. The leagues have cre- 
ated Base Ball. Some persons may think that the game is a necessity, but 
if we consider it from a strictly legal phase it is rather a luxury. The 
last men in the world who should attack the organization of Base Ball 
should be the players themselves. The trust feature of it made them. 
The trust sought them out, developed them, trained them, exploited them, 
brought them to public notice and then paid them liberal salaries. 

"game MADE THE PLAYERS. 

"If Base Ball were not so highly organized the famous players of today 
might never have been heard of. Instead of the attention of the people 
being focussed upon the great games there would be little ones in the back 
lots all over town and the enthusiasm of the sport would be dissipated. 
The rivalry which is promoted by having clubs to represent the leading 
cities comes with the trust idea. We have the American League and the 
National. These organizations so arrange their dates that they do not 
conflict in their games. This keeps up a steady attendance in Base Ball 
and the people enjoy the games under both managements, 

"the present organization 

has given to this country its beautiful base ball parks, its splendidly devel- 
oped players, a corps of capable and well trained umpires and every 
facility for the enjoyment of a wholesome and exciting sport. Such an 
organization cannot be maintained without large expenditures, I should 
say that the salary list of the average club alone for a season would be 
$75,000 at least. The organization of Base Ball requires discipline, and 



Organized Base Ball 225 

it must enforce it. It is not pleasant for a player who may be disturbed 
in his mind by a mistake that 

HE HIMSELF HAS MADE 

or by the fact that his team is losing to have vile epithets hurled at him 
by some fan in the bleachers to whom he has never been introduced. The 
man who does the tail-twisting is having fun out of it. He does not 
stop to consider that if he said those things in a theatre to actors who 
were endeavoring to entertain him that he would be put out of the place 
by the police. Such conduct disgusts many persons with Base Ball. The 
player, on the other hand, cannot be permitted to jump over the rail and 
club the man who insulted him. Having been a base ball player I know 
that it is hard to keep one's temper when remarks on one's personal appear- 
ance or one's methods are yelled at one by persons who have paid their 
fifty cents to come and see him. 

"SUGGESTS ENLARGED COMMISSION. 

"Base Ball is something which cannot in my opinion be discussed by 
legislators or by judges. There are some judges who are fans, I know, but 
the whole idea of Base Ball is such that it is difficult to reduce it to legal 
terms. The present form of regulation is good. As one who has been 
both player and manager, I would suggest that there be a special commis- 
sion appointed independent of the National Base Ball Commission to take 
up the questions which arise out of the relations of players and the clubs 
which have signed them. Let it be understood that I have no criticism 
for the Commission as at present constituted. It is composed of such men 
as Ban Johnson, head of the American League, and Thomas Lynch, the 
president of the National League. Its decisions are given after due study 
and with a disposition to be 

FAIR TO THE PLAYERS. 

I believe, however, that if there were a special commission in which there 
would be at least one player member it would have a salutary effect upon 
the game. Fair as I think the decisions of the Commission have been, it 
has many other things to occupy it. It is hardly to be expected that a 
player would have the same faith in a tribunal in which he has no repre- 
sentative present as he would have in one in which he has." 

Mr. Ward, in conclusion, said that once the decision of such 
a tribunal were given it should be accepted by the player whether 
he liked it or not, and there should then be no further appeal for 
judgment. 



15 




Henky Chadwick 



Chairman for Many Years of Committee on Rules of the 
First National Association 



THE PLAYING RULES 

Wbt ^tar|> of tiie #rabual Cbolution of ttje Joules? anb 
3EleguIationfl( Sanber WBiit^ tfje (game of JBas^e pall 3!3e= 
belopeb Jprom a Pop'£J <§ame to tije ^res(ent "^irtuall|» 
perfect ^tienttftc Status; a^ ti)e (game of a (great J^atton* 




IHE present (1913) Code of Playing Rules 
of Base Ball is the result of continuous 
development from September 23, 1845, 
when the Knickerbocker Club, of New 
York, formulated the first Code of Rules, 
under which, on June 19, 1846, the first 
match game of record was played at 
Hoboken, N. J., between the Knickerbocker 
and New York Clubs, the latter winning the game, 23 to i, in 
"four hands," or innings. A copy of this initial code of rules is 
appended : 

Section 1. The bases shall be from "home" to second base 42 paces, 
from first to third base 42 paces equidistant. 

Sec. 2. The game shall consist of 21 counts or aces, but at the con- 
clusion an equal number of hands must be played. 

Sec. 3. The ball must be pitched and not thrown for the bat. 

Sec. 4. A ball knocked outside the range of first or third base is foul. 

Sec. 5. Three balls being struck at and missed, and the last one caught 
is a hand out ; if not caught is considered fair and the striker bound to run. 

Sec. 6. A ball being struck or tipped, and caught either flying or on the 
first bound is a hand out. 

Sec. 7. A player running the bases shall be out if the ball is in the 
hands of an adversary on the base, as the runner is touched by it before he 
makes his base ; it being understood, however, that in no instance is a ball 
to be thrown at him. 

Sec. 8. A player running, who shall prevent an adversary from catch- 
ing or getting the ball before making his base, is a hand out. 

Sec. 9. If two hands are already out, a player running home at the 
time a ball is struck cannot make an ace if the striker is caught out. 

Sec. 10. Three hands out, all out. 

Sec. 11. Players must take their strike in regular turn. 

Sec. 12. No ace (run) or base can be made on a foul strike. 

Sec. 13. A runner cannot be put out on making one base when a balk 
is made by the pitcher. 

Sec. 14. But one base allowed when the ball bounds out of the field 
when struck. 

After the above cited initial match game the sport was played 
in haphazard fashion, making headway slowly. The second 
match game recorded as played under the title Base Ball was 
played June 3, 1851, the Knickerbockers defeating the Washing- 
tons, 21 to II. The rules had been but little improved upon and 
were therefore substantially as above stated; and yet even those 



228 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

first rules, although differing in many respects from latter-day- 
rules, covered the fundamentals of the game substantially then 
as in modern times. The main difference was in the liberty given 
to the players, as the pitcher could move as he liked, pro- 
vided he did not overstep a boundary line, which was but forty- 
five feet from the batsman. The batsman was required only to 
stand back of a short line crossing the home base. On the 
other hand, the pitcher was then prevented from sending in the 
ball in any other style than by a square pitch or toss, hence it was 
impossible to attain much speed or use the strategic maneuvers 
of the game of the present day. 

improvements made very slowly. 

From the start, however, the Knickerbockers exerted them- 
selves to improve the playing rules. In 1848 an amendment was 
made to the code, putting a base runner out at first base if the 
ball is held on the base before the runner reaches it, there being 
no need to touch the runner on such base, as had been the prac- 
tice; but this change did not apply to the other bases. In 1849 
the first playing uniform was adopted by the Knickerbocker Club. 
In 1854 three sections were added to the code, specifications for 
the ball being adopted, under which it had to weigh from five and 
one-half to six and one-quarter ounces, and to be two and three- 
quarters to three and one-half inches in diameter; but the bat 
w^as not limited as to length. It was possible until 1857 to 
finish a game in one innings, the side scoring the 21 aces (runs) 
being the victor, regardless of innings ; but in 1857 the game was 
divided into nine innings, with five innings constituting a legal 
game in the event of interruption, same as now. The first definite 
step toward securing uniformity of rules was at a meeting in 
May, 1857, to organize a National Convention. At this conven- 
tion the rules were adopted, somewhat amended, field plan meas- 
urements were drawn, and all were printed, for the first time, in 
an official rule book, edited by Henry Chadwick, and published by 
Miller and Hastings. It should be noted here that the dimensions 
of the diamond remained unchanged from the time of their for- 
mulation in 1839 by General Ddubleday. At the 1858 meeting 
for the permanent organization of the 



The Playing Rules 229 

national association of base ball players 

the rules were further amended. In this year also the first series 
of games between regularly organized teams took place at the 
Fashion Race Course, in Brooklyn. Among the rule amendments 
of 1858 was one confining the pitcher behind a line fifteen yards 
from home base, and four yards long, but permitting a short run. 
The batsman's position was also now defined, the batsman being 
required to stand back of a six-feet line crossing the home 
base; but the batsman was out when a batted fly ball, foul or 
fair, was caught on the first bound. Moreover, the pitcher could 
pitch to the batsman, or the catcher only, at pleasure, or as many 
wild balls as he chose to pitch, there being no called ball penalty. 
The batsman, too, could strike at balls or not, as it suited him. 
whether they were over the home base or not; the rule only 
requiring that he should not refuse to strike at good balls in order 
to delay the game or help a base runner. The base runner was 
also not required to touch each base in order. In 1858 Henry 
Chadwick, who had commenced to report base ball games in 1856, 
began to suggest changes and in the '60s, as a member of the 
National Association's Rule Committee, he continually advocated 
amendments which led to a rather extensive overhauling in 1863. 

RULES OF FORMATIVE PERIOD. 

In 1863 the National Association of Base Ball Players, at 
a convention held in New York, on December 9, so codified and 
arranged the rules that they served as basis for the rules for all 
time so far as the fundamental principles of the game were con- 
cerned. We give herewith a verbatim copy of the 1863 rules, 
including the punctuation of the time. It should be noted that in 
Section 3 the field ground is spoken of as a "square," instead of 
the "diamond," as we now know it. In Section 3, the pitcher's 
"base point" and the home base are required to be marked by an 
iron plate. In Section 6, it was prescribed that any runner could 
advance a base when a batsman was awarded a base on balls. 
In Section 7, it was prescribed that pitchers must "pitch" and 
with both feet on the ground. In Sections 13 and 14, the "out 
on first bound on foul or fair fly" was retained, but in 1864 the 
rule was amended so that it applied only to foul bounds. The 
word "ace," in Section 26, meant a "run." Section 30 gave the 



230 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



CATCHER. 



SCOEEES. 



UMPIRE. 




RIGHT FIELD. 



Second kSs Base. 



CENTRE FIELD. 

4> 



LEFT FIELD. 



THE FIELD IN 1863 



The Playing Rules 231 

umpire almost as much power as he has today. Under these rules 
also were given the specifications for size and weight of ball, and 
style of the round bat, substantially as they are in vogue today. 
Up to 1858, the ball could have a circumference of ten and one- 
half inches, and a weight of six and one-quarter ounces ; and the 
bat could be of any length. In 1859 the bat was limited as to 
thickness and the ball was reduced in weight a quarter of an 
ounce, and a quarter of an inch in size. In i860 the ball was 
again reduced in size a quarter of an inch and in weight a quarter 
of an ounce. In 1863 the pitcher was, for the first time, confined 
to a box and obliged to stand still while delivering the ball; and 
for the first time, the pitcher was penalized with the called ball, and 
the batsman was penalized with a called strike for refusing to hit 
a good ball. Under these new rules also the runner was, for the 
first time, required to touch each base in making the circuit. At 
this convention also, Henry Chadwick's system of scoring was 
endorsed — the first action of the kind of record. In 1864 the out 
on fly bound was abolished, but the out on foul fly bound was 
retained in the code until Fall of 1882. Herewith is given in full 
the 1863 code, which was revolutionary in its future effect on 
the game : 

Rules and Regulations Adopted by the National Association of Base 
Ball Players, Held in New York, December 9, 1863. 

Section 1. The ball must weigh not less than five and one-half ounces 
nor more than five and three- fourths ounces, avoirdupois. It must measure 
not less than nine and one-half, nor more than nine and three-fourths inches 
in circumference. It must be composed of India rubber and yarn, and 
covered with leather, and in all match games shall be furnished by the chal- 
lenging club, and become the property of the winning club as a trophy of 
victory. 

Sec. 2. The bat must be round, and must not exceed two and a half 
inches in diameter in the thickest part. It must be made of wood, and 
may be of any length to suit the striker. 

Sec. 3. The bases must be four in number, placed at equal distances 
from each other, and securely fastened upon the four corner of a square 
whose sides are respectively thirty yards. They must be so constructed as 
to be distinctly seen by the umpire, and must cover a space equal to one 
square foot of surface. The first, second and third bases shall be of can- 
vas bags, painted white, and filled with sand or sawdust ; the home base 
and pitcher's point to be each marked by a flat circular iron plate, painted or 
enameled white. 

Sec. 4. The base from which the ball is struck shall be designated the 
home base, and must be directly opposite to the second base ; the first base 
must always be that upon the right hand, and the third base that upon the left 
hand side of the striker, when occupying his position at the home base. 
And in all match games, a line connecting the home and first base and the 
home and third base, shall be marked by the use of chalk, or other suitable 
material, so as to be distinctly seen by the umpire. 

Sec. 5. The pitcher's position shall be designated by two line, four 
yards in length, drawn at right angles to a line from home to second base, 
having their centers upon that line at two fixed iron plates, placed at points 



232 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

fifteen and sixteen yards distant from the home base. The pitcher must 
stand within the lines, and must deliver the ball as near as possible over 
the center of the home base, and for the striker. 

Sec. 6. Should the pitcher repeatedly fail to deliver to the striker fair 
balls, for the apparent purpose of delaying the game, or for any other 
cause, the umpire, after warning him, shall call one ball, and if the pitcher 
persists in such action, two and three balls; when three balls shall have 
been called, the striker shall be entitled to the first base ; and should any 
base be occupied at the time, each player occupying them shall be entitled 
to one base without being put out. 

Sec. 7. The ball must be pitched, not jerked or thrown to the bat ; and 
whenever the pitcher draws back his hand, or moves with the apparent 
purpose or pretension to deliver the ball, he shall so deliver it, and must 
have neither foot in advance of the front line or off the ground at the time 
of delivering the ball; and if he fails in either of these particulars, then 
it shall be declared a balk. 

Sec. 8. When a balk is made by the pitcher, every player running the 
bases is entitled to one base, without being put out. 

Sec. 9. If the ball from a stroke of the bat, first touches the ground, 
the person df a player, or any other object, behind the range of home and 
the first base, or home and the third base, it shall be termed foul, and must 
be so declared by the umpire, unasked. If the ball first touches the ground, 
either upon, or in front of the range of those bases, it shall be considered 
fair. 

Sec. 10. A player making the home base shall be entitled to score one 
run. 

Sec. 11. If three balls are struck at, and missed, and the last one is 
not caught, either flying or upon the first bound, it shall be considered fair, 
and the striker must attempt to make his run. 

Sec. 12. The striker is out if a foul ball is caught, either before touch- 
ing the ground, or upon the first bound. 

Sec. 13. Or, if three balls are struck at and missed, and the last is 
caught, either before touching the ground, or upon the first bound ; 

Sec. 14. Or, if a fair ball is struck, and the ball is caught either without 
having touched the ground, or upon the first bound ; 

Sec. 15. Or, if a fair ball is struck, and the ball is held by an adver- 
sary on first base, before the striker touches that base. 

Sec. 16. Any player running the bases is out, ft at any time he is 
touched by the ball while in play in the hands of an adversary, without 
some part of his person being on the base. 

Sec. 17. No ace or base can be made upon a foul ball; such ball shall 
be considered dead, and not in play until it shall have been settled in the 
hands of the pitcher. In such cases players running the bases shall return 
to them, and may be put out in so returning in the same manner as the 
striker when running to the first base. 

Sec. 18. No ace or base can be made when a fair ball has been caught 
without having touched the ground ; such ball shall be considered alive 
and in play. In such case the players running bases shall return to them, 
and may be put out in so returning in the same manner as the striker when 
running to first base ; but players, when balls are so caught, may run their 
bases immediately after the ball has been settled in the hands of the player 
catching it. 

Sec. 19. The striker must stand on a line drawn through the center 
of the home base, not exceeding in length three feet from either side thereof, 
and parallel with the line occupied by the pitcher. He shall be considered 
the striker until he has made first base. Players must strike in regular 
rotation, and, after the first innings is played, the turn commences with the 
player who stands on the list next to the one who lost the third hand. 

Sec. 20. Players must make their bases in the order of striking; and 
when a fair ball is struck, and not caught flying (or on the flrst bound), 
the first base must be vacated, as also the second and third bases, if they 
are occupied at the same time. Players may be put out on any base, 
under these circumstances, in the same manner as the striker when running 
to first base. 

Sec. 21. Players running bases must touch them ; and, so far as possi- 
ble, keep upon the direct line between them ; and must touch them in the 
following order : first, second, third and home ; and if returning must reverse 



The Playing Rules 233 

this order ; and should any player run three feet out of the line, for the 
purpose of avoiding the ball in the hands o'f an adversary, he shall be 
declared out. 

Sec. 22. Any player who shall intentionally prevent an adversary from 
catching or fielding the ball, shall be declared out. 

Sec. 23. If the player is prevented from making a base, by the inten- 
tional obstruction of an adversary, he shall be entitled to that base and 
not be put out. 

Sec. 24. If an adversary stops the ball with his hat or cap, or takes 
it from the hands of a party not engaged in the game, no player can be 
put out unless the ball shall first have been settled in the hands of the 
pitcher. 

Sec. 25. If a ball, from the stroke of a bat, is held under any other 
circumstances than as enumerated in Section 24, and without having 
touched the ground more than once, the striker is out. 

Sec. 26. If two hands are already out, no player running home at the 
time a ball is struck, can make an ace if the striker is put out. 

Sec. 27. AU innings must be concluded at the time the third hand is 
put out. 

Sec. 28. The game shall consist of nine innings to each side, when, 
should the number of runs be equal, the play shall be continued until a 
majority of runs, upon an equal number o'f innings, shall be declared, which 
shall conclude the game. 

Sec. 29. In playing all matches, nine players from each club shall con- 
stitute a full field, and they must have been regulars of the club which they 
represent, and of no other clubs, for thirty days prior to the match. No 
change or substitution shall be made after the game has been commenced, 
unless for reason of illness or injury. Position of players and choice of 
innings shall be determined by captains previously appointed for that pur- 
pose by the respective clubs. 

Sec. 30. The umpire shall take care that the regulations respecting 
balls, bats, bases, and the pitcher's and striker's positions, are strictly 
observed. He shall keep a record of the game in a book prepared for the 
purpose ; he shall be the judge of fair and unfair play, and shall determine 
all disputes and differences which may occur during the game ; he shall 
take especial care to declare all foul bails and balks immediately upon 
their occurrence, unasked, and in a distinct and audible manner. He shall, 
in every instance, before leaving the ground, declare the winning club, and 
shall record his decision in the score books of the two clubs. 

Sec. 31. In all matches the umpire shall be selected by the captains of 
the respective clubs, and shall perform all the duties enumerated in Section 
30, except recording the game, which shall be done by two scorers, one of 
whom shall be appointed by each of the contending clubs. 

Sec. 32. No person engaged in a match, either as umpire, scorer, or 
player, shall be, either directly or indirectly, interested in any bet upon 
the game. Neither umpire, scorer or player shall be changed during a 
match, unless with the consent of both parties (except for a violation of 
this law) except as provided in Section 29, and then the umpire may dis- 
miss any transgressors. 

Sec. 33. The umpire in any match shall determine when play shall be 
suspended ; and if the game cannot be concluded, it shall be decided by the 
last even innings, provided five innings have been played, and the party hav- 
ing the greatest number of runs shall be declared the winner. 

Sec. 34. Clubs may adopt such rules respecting balls knocked beyond 
or outside of the bounds of the field, as the circumstances of the ground 
may demand; and these rules shall govern all matches played upon the 
ground, provided that they are distinctly made known to every player and 
umpire, previous to the commencement of the game. 

Sec. 35. No person shall be permitted to approach or to speak with the 
umpire, scorers or players, or in any manner to interrupt or interfere dur- 
ing the progress of the game, unless by special request of the umpire. 

Sec. 36. No person shall be permitted to act as umpire or scorer in 
any match unless he shall be a member of a base ball club governed by 
these rules. 

Sec. 37. Whenever a match shall have been determined upon between 
two clubs, play shall be called at the exact hour appointed ; and should 



234 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

either party 'fail to produce their players within fifteen minutes thereafter, 
the party so failing shall admit a defeat. 

Sec. 38. No person who shall be in arrears to any other club, or who 
shall at any time receive compensation for his services as player, shall be 
competent to play in any match. 

Sec. 39. Should a striker stand at the bat without striking at good 
balls repeatedly pitched to him, for the apparent purpose of delaying the 
game, or of giving advantage to a player, the umpire, after warning him, 
shall call one strike, and if he persists in such action, two and three strikes. 
When three strikes are called, he shall be subject to the same rules as if 
he had struck at three fair balls. 

Sec. 40. Every m,atch hereafter made shall be declared by a single game, 
unless otherwise mutually agreed upon by the contesting clubs. 

RULES OF THE DEVELOPING PERIOD. 

Under the above new code of the National Association of 
Amateur Base Ball Players, the popularity of the game increased 
rapidly and this made necessary constant revision of the Playing 
Rules. This was an annual task for the late Henry Chad wick, 
who was in later years known throughout the country as the 
"Father of Base Ball." From 1863 to 1870, he was a member of 
the National Association Committee on Rules, and in 1864 he 
inaugurated the first of a series of important amendments to the 
rules, and thereafter, year after year, the rules were altered, 
principally with a view to equalizing the powers of attack and 
defence. In 1865, ^ tu\q, dividing the fraternity of players into 
professional and amateur players, was adopted by almost unani- 
mous vote of nearly 200 clubs in convention assembled. In 1864 
^^the out on fair hound" was abolished, after a struggle of years. 
In 1867, the rules were for the first time , arranged in special 
departments, pretty much as they are today. First were grouped 
the rules relating to the implements of the game, then the pitch- 
ing rules, the batting rules, the base running rules, the umpiring 
rules, and finally, the general rules. In this year, also, the 

BATSMAN WAS GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE 

of calling for "high" or "low" pitched ball ; the pitcher's box was 
made six by six feet, and he was permitted to move as he pleased 
within that enclosure; and the rule on forfeited games was also 
adopted for the first time. Thereafter there were no important 
changes in the rules for several years, and when the National 
Association split in 1870 on various questions affecting profes- 
sionalism and the National Professional Association was organ- 
ized in 1871, on a pure professional basis, the new body adopted 
the National Association rules entire, but in 1872 a few important 



The Playing Rules 235 

amendments were made. These were regarding the rubber in the 
ball ; permitting a stone or marble home plate in place of an iron 
plate ; permitting any style of delivery except overhand throwing, 
or roundarm bowling, as in cricket; the batsman was no longer 
permitted to step over the line of his position with both feet ; the 
runner to first base forfeited exemption from being put out if he 
turned to the left. Following is the Playing Rules Code, re- 
printed from De Witt's 1872 Guide, under which the first Profes- 
sional Association lived and died and the National League started : 

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION RULES FOR 1872. 

EULE I. — THE MATERIALS OF THE GAME. 

Section 1. — The Ball. — The ball must weigh not less than five nor more 
than five and one-quarter ounces avoirdupois. It must measure not less 
than nine inches nor more than nine and one-quarter inches in circumfer- 
ence. It must be composed of India rubber and yam, and be covered with 
leather. The quantity of rubber used in the ball shall be one ounce, and 
the rubber used shall be vulcanized and in mould form. 

Sec. 2. — Furnishing the Ball. — In the first and odd games of a series 
the ball shall be furnished by the challenging club, and in the second and 
even games by the challenged club. But when "single" games are played 
only, the ball shall be furnished by the challenging club. In all cases it 
shall become the property of the winning club, as a trophy of victory. 

Sec. 3. — The Bat. — The bat must be round, and must not exceed two 
and a half inches in diameter in the thickest part. It must be made of 
wood, and shall not exceed forty-two inches in length. 

Sec. 4. — The Bases. — The bases must be four in number, placed at equal 
distances from each other, and securely fastened upon each corner of a 
square whose sides are respectively thirty yards. The bases must be so 
constructed and placed as to be distinctly seen by the umpire, and must 
cover a space equal to one square foot of surface. The first, second and 
third bases shall be canvas bags, painted white, and filled with some soft 
material ; the home base shall consist of white marble or stone, so fixed in 
the ground as to be even with the surface. 

Sec. 5. — The Positions of Bases. — The base from which the ball is 
struck shall be designated the home base, and must be directly opposite to 
the second base ; the first base must always be that upon the right hand, 
and the third base that upon the left hand side of the striker, when occu- 
pying his position at the home base. And in all match games, a line con- 
necting the honie and first base and the home and third base, as also the 
lines of the striker's and pitcher's positions, shall be marked by the use of 
chalk, or other suitable material, so as to be distinctly seen by the umpire. 
The base bag shaU be considered the base, and not the post to which it is 
or should be fastened. The line of the home plate shall extend three feet on 
each side of the base, and it shall be drawn parallel to a line extending 
from first to third base. 

RULE II. — THE PITCHING DEPARTMENT. 

Section 1. — The Pitcher's Position. — The pitcher's position shall be 
designated by two lines two yards in length, drawn at right angles to the 
line from home to the second base, having their centers upon that line at 
two fixed iron plates, placed at points fifteen and seventeen yards distant 
from the home base. There must also be an iron plate at each end of the 
front line of the position. 

Sec. 2. — Delivering the Ball. — The player who delivers the ball to the 
bat must do so while within the lines of the pitcher's position, and he must 
remain within them until the ball has left his hand ; and he shall not make 
any motion to so deliver the ball while outside the lines of the pitcher's 
position. 

Sec. 3. — Balking. — Whenever the player delivering the ball to the bat 



236 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



CATC 
UMPIllE. *2 « 



eg 



HER. 




STRIKEE. 



3 feet. 




2a Baseman. 
O 



Bigbt-flelder. 
O 



OUT riELD. 



Iieft-flelder. 
O 



Centre-flelder. 
O 



THE FIELD IN 1872 



The Playing Rules 237 

shall throw it by an overhand or roundarm throw, the umpire shall declare 
a foul balk, and should the player delivering such balls to the bat persist 
in his action, the umpire, after warning him of the penalty, shall declare 
the game forfeited by a score of 9 to 0. Also, when the player delivering 
the ball makes any motion to deliver the ball to the bat, he shall so deliver 
it, and he must not have either foot outside the lines of his position, either 
when commencing to deliver the ball or at the time of its delivery ; and if he 
fail in any of these particulars, then it shall be declared a balk, in which 
case any base runner occupying a base shall take one base without being 
put out. 

Sec. 4. — Unfair Balls. — All balls delivered to the bat which are sent in 
over the striker's head, or on the ground in front of the home base, or on 
the side opposite to that which the batsman strikes from, or which hit the 
striker while he is standing in his proper position, or which are sent in 
within a foot of his person, shall be considered unfair balls, and every such 
unfair ball must be called in the order of its delivery, after the first ball 
has been delivered, the first ball to each striker alone to be excepted. 

Sec. 5. — Fair Balls. — All balls delivered to the bat which are sent in 
over the home base, and "high" or "low," as the batsman calls for, and 
which are not delivered by an overhand throw or by a roundarm delivery, 
as in cricket, shaU be Considered fair balls. 

Sec. 6. — Hit Called Balls. — No player shall be put out on any hit baU 
on which a "balk" or a "ball" has been called, and neither shall a strike or 
a foul ball be called or a base be run on such a ball. 

Sec. 7. — Dead Fouls. — Any ball sent to the bat from the pitcher's posi- 
tion, which shall accidentally hit the striker's bat, shall be declared a "dead 
foul bat|l," and no base shall be run or player put out on such ball. 

Sec. 8. — Penalties. — Should the player who delivers the ball to the bat 
repeatedly fail to deliver to the striker fair balls, from any cause, the 
umpire must call one ball ; and if the player persists in such action, two and 
three balls. When three balls shall have been called, the striker shall take 
his first base without being put out ; but no base runner shall take a base 
on third called balls unless he is obliged to vacate the base he occupies. No 
ball shall be called on the first ball delivered, and not until the ball has 
passed the home base. With this exception, all unfair balls must be called 
in the order of their delivery. 

RULE III. — THE BATTING DEPAETMENT. 

Section 1. — The StriJcer^s Position. — The striker, when in the act of 
striking at the ball, must stand astride the line of the home base, and dis- 
tant not less than one foot from that base, and when occupying this posi- 
tion only one foot must be forward or backward of the line of the home 
base. The penalty for an infringement of this rule shall be the calling of 
"foul strike," and when three such strikes have been called the striker shall 
be declared out. If a ball on which such a strike is called be hit and 
caught, either fair or foul, the striker shall be declared out. No base shall 
be run on any such called strike. But any player running the bases shall 
be allowed to return to the base he has left without being put out. As 
soon as the striker has struck a fair ball he shall be considered "a player 
running the base." 

Sec. 2. — Order o\f Striking. — Players must strike in regular rotation, 
and, after the first innings is played, the turn commences with the player 
who stands on the list next to the one who was third player out. Any 
player failing to take his turn at the bat after the umpire has called for 
the striker, unless by reason of illness or injury, or by consent of the cap- 
tains of the contesting nines, shall be declared out. 

Sec. 3. — Calling for Balls. — The striker shall be privileged to call for 
either a high or a low ball, in which case the pitcher must deliver the ball 
to the bat as required. The ball shall be considered a high ball if pitched 
between the height of the waist and the shoulder of the striker ; and it 
shall be considered a low ball if pitched between the height of the waist 
and one foot from the ground. 

Sec. 4. — Balls Not Called For. — Should the striker fail to call for either 
a "high" or "low" ball, in such case no ball shall be called which is deliv- 
ered over the home base and within the range o'f shoulder high and one foot 
from the ground ; provided, also, that the balls so delivered shall not include 
any balls described in Rule 2, Section 4, as "unfair balls." 



238 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Sec. 5. — Refusing to Strike. — Should the striker refuse to strike at fair 
balls pitched over the home base and within the specified reach of the bat, 
the umpire shall call "one strike," and if the striker persists in such action, 
two and three strikes. When three strikes are called, and the ball be caught 
either before touching the ground or upon the first bound, the striker shall 
be declared out, provided the balls struck at are not those on which balls 
or balks have been called. If three balls are struck at and missed, and the 
last one is not caught, either flying or upon the first bound, the striker (or 
the player running for him) must attempt to make his run, and in such case 
he can be put out on the bases in the same manner as if he had struck a 
fair ball. No strike shall be called upon the first ball delivered, except the 
ball be struck at, and neither shall any strike be called when the ball is 
struck at for the purpose of wilfully striking out. 

Sec. 6. — How Put Out. — The striker is out if a foul ball is caught, 
either before touching the ground or upon the first bound ; or if a fair ball 
is struck, and the ball be held before touching the ground ; or if a fair ball 
is struck, and the ball be held by an adversary on first base, before the base 
runner touches that base; or if a fair ball be caught from the hands or 
person of a player before having touched the ground ; or if a foul ball be 
similarly caught after touching the ground but once; or if the striker wil- 
fully strike at the ball, either to be put out or to balk the catcher. No fair 
or foul ball, i'f caught from any other object than the person of a player, 
even before touching the ground, shall put a player out. 

Sec. 7. — The Use of Private Bats. — The striker shall be privileged to 
use his own private bat exclusively, and no other player of the contesting 
nines shall have any claim to the use of such bat, except by consent of 
the owner. 

Sec. 8. — Foul Balls. — If the ball, from the stroke of the bat, first 
touches the ground, the person of a player, or any other object, behind the 
line of range of the home and first base, or home and third base, it shall be 
termed foul, and niust be so declared by the umpire, unasked. If the ball 
first touches the ground, the person of a player, or any other object, either 
upon or in front of the line of range of those bases, it shall be considered 
fair. All foul balls must be called whenever the ball, while in the air, is 
seen to be falling behind the lines of the bases, as above described. 

RULE IV. — ^RUNNING THE BASES. 

Section 1. — Order of Taking Bases. — Players must take their bases in 
the order of striking, and when a fair ball is struck and not caught flying, 
the first base must be vacated, as also the second and third bases, if they 
are occupied at the same time. Players may be put out on any base, under 
these circumstances, in the same manner as when running to the first base ; 
but the moment the ball is caught, or the player running to the first base 
is put out, the other players running bases shall cease to be forced to vacate 
their bases, and may return to them. 

Sec. 2. — Overrunning First Base. — The player running to first base 
may overrun it without being put out, provided that in so doing he runs 
either straight "forward, on the line of the foul ball line, or to the right of 
the base ; but should he turn to the left, or attempt to make second base, 
he shall be liable to be put out, as in the case of running to second, third 
or home base. 

Sec. 3. — Bases to Be Touched. — Players running bases must touch them, 
and, so far as possible, keep upon the direct line between them, and must 
touch them in the following order : First, second, third and home ; and if 
returning, must reverse this order ; and should any player run three feet 
out of this line for the purpose of avoiding the ball in the hands o'f an 
adversary, he shall be declared out ; or if he fail to touch each base he runs 
or returns to, he shall be declared out, unless he return to such base before 
the ball be held on it. 

Sec. 4. — Forced Off Bases. — No base runner shall be forced to vacate a 
base unless as provided in Section 1 of this rule ; and when the first and 
second bases, or the three bases, are occupied, and a fair ball is struck, the 
moment the player running to a base is put out the players occupying the 
bases ahead of him shall cease to be forced to vacate their bases, and shall 
be privileged to return to the bases they have vacated, but only at the risk 
di being put out while off a base. 

Sec. 5. — Running on Fouls. — No run or base can be made upon a foul 



The Playing Rules 239 

ball. Such a ball shall be considered dead, and not in play, until it shall 
first have been settled in the hands of the pitcher, in any part of the field 
he may happen to be. In such cases, players running bases shall return to 
them, and may be put out in so returning, in the same manner as when 
running to first base. Neither can a run or base be made when a fair ball 
has been caught without having touched the ground; but such a ball shall 
be considered alive and in play. In such cases, also, players running bases 
shall return to them, and may be put out in so returning in the same man- 
ner as when running to first base, but players, when balls are caught, may 
run their bases immediately after the ball has been momentarily settled in 
the hands of the player catching it. 

Sec. 6. — Taking Bases on Balks. — When a balk is made by the pitcher, 
every player running the bases must take one base without being put out, 
whether it be on a "foul balk" or an ordinary balk. 

Sec. 7. — Running on Fly Balls. — In the case of a fair hit ball on the 
fly, the player running the bases shall not be entitled to any base touched 
after the ball has been hit, and before the catch has been made. 

Sec. 8. — On Running Home. — A player running the bases shall, after 
touching the home base, be entitled to score one run, but if a fair ball be 
struck when two hands are already out, no player running home at the 
time the ball is struck can make a run to count in the score of the game 
if the striker or player running the bases is put out before touching the 
first base. 

Sec. 9. — Obstructing Base Runners. — If the player running the bases is 
prevented 'from making a base by the intentional obstruction of an adver- 
sary, he shall be entitled to that base, and shall not be put out. Any 
obstruction that could readily be avoided shall be considered as intentional. 

Sec. 10. — Putting Out Base Runners. — Any player running the bases 
is out if at any time he is touched by the ball, while in play, in the hands 
of an adversary, without some part of his person being on the base, except 
as provided in Section 2 o'f Rule IV. And should a fielder, with the ball in 
hand, while in the act of touching a base runner while off a base, have the 
ball knocked out of his hand by the base runner, the latter shall be declared 
out. 

Sec. 11. — Running Bases on Called Balls. — Any player running the 
bases, who shall have a base given him on called balls, shall be privileged to 
run the risk of making all the bases he can by fielding errors beyond the 
base given him ; but in such case he shall be liable to be put out by being 
touched while off the bases, as described in Section 10 of Rule IV. 

Sec. 12. — Substitutes. — No player shall be allowed a substitute in run- 
ning the bases, except for illness or injury, unless by a special consent of 
the captain of the opposing nine ; and in such case the latter shall select 
the player to run as substitute. 

RULE V. THE GAME. 

Section 1. — The Innings. — The game shall consist of nine innings to 
each side, when, at the close of such number of innings, should the number 
of runs be equal, the play shall be continued until a majority of runs, upon 
an equal number of innings, shall be declared, which shall conclude the game. 
AH innings must be concluded at the time the third hand is put out. 

Sec. 2. — Drawn Games. — Whenever a game of five or more innings on 
each side is stopped by darkness, rain, or other such causes, and the score 
at the time is equal on the even innings played, then the game shall be 
declared drawn ; but under no other circumstances shall a drawn game be 
declared. 

Sec. 3. — Five Innings to Be Played. — Under no circumstances shall a 
game be considered as played, or a ball be claimed or delivered as the trophy 
of victory, unless five innings on each side shall have been played to a close. 
And should darkness or rain intervene before the third hand is put out in 
the closing part of the fifth innings o'f a game, the umpire shall declare 
"no game." 

Sec. 4. — ISlo Play in Rain. — No match shall be commenced when rain 
is falling, and neither shall play in any such game be continued after rain 
has fallen over five minutes. Should rain commence to fall during the prog- 
ress of a match game, the umpire shall promptly note the time it began to 
rain, and should rain continue for five minutes, he shall suspend play 



240 Richter's History and. Records of Base Ball 

directly ; and such suspended game shall not be resumed until, in the opin- 
ion of the umpire, the ground is in fit condition for fair fielding. 

Sec. 5. — Irregular Games. — No ball shall be claimed or delivered (except 
as otherwise provided in these rules) unless it be won in a regular match 
game ; and no match game shall be considered regular if any of the rules 
of the game be violated by either of the contesting nines, whether by mutual 
consent or otherwise. 

Sec. 6. — Position of Players. — Positions of players and choice of in- 
nings shall be determined by captains previously appointed for that pur- 
pose by the respective clubs. The nine fielders of each contesting club shall 
be privileged to take any position in the field their captains may choose to 
assign them. 

Sec. 7. — Legal Players. — In playing all matches nine players from each 
of the two contesting clubs shall constitute a full field, and these players 
must be regular members of the club they represent. They must also not 
have been members of any other base ball club — whether in or out of the 
Professional Association — or have played in any match game with any other 
club for sixty days prior to the date of the match they are to play in, 
matches played prior to April 1st of the season they play in excepted. Every 
player taking part in a regular match game, no matter what number of 
innings are played, shall be, in the meaning of this section of the rules, 
considered a member of the club he plays with ; and all matches shall be 
regarded as "regular" in which nines of two contesting clubs are opposed 
to each other. 

Sec. 8. — Ineligible Players. — No person who shall, at any time during 
the year the match is played in, have been constitutionally expelled from 
another club for dishonorable conduct, shall be competent to take part in 
any match game; and no player not in the nine taking their position on the 
field in the third innings of the game, shall be substituted for a player in 
the nine, except for reason of illness or injury. 

Sec. 9. — Breaking Engagements. — No player who has wilfully broken a 
written engagement to a club shall be eligible to take part in any game 
played by any clubs of the Professional Association during the year in which 
such engagement was made. No agreement for any engagement shall be 
considered as binding upon club or player which is not made in writing and 
signed by at least one witness. This rule shall be binding, unless its penal- 
ties be rescinded by a legal decision given by the Judiciary Committee of 
the Professional Association. 

Sec. 10. — Forfeited Games. — Whenever a match shall have been deter- 
mined upon between two clubs, play shall be called at the exact hour 
appointed; and should either party fail to produce their players within 
thirty minutes thereafter, the party so failing shall admit a defeat, and shall 
forfeit the ball to the club having their nine players on the ground ready to 
play, and the game so forfeited shall be considered as won, and so counted 
in the list of matches; and the winning club shall be entitled to a score of 
nine runs to none for any game so forfeited. Should the delinquent club 
fail to play on account of the recent death of one of its active members, or 
from an unavoidable accident, no such forfeit shall be declared. 

EULE VI. THE DUTIES OF THE UMPIRE. 

Section 1. — The umpire shall take care that the regulations respecting 
the balls, bats, bases, and the pitchers' and strikers* positions are strictly 
observed, and he shall require the challenging club to furnish a ball on which 
the size, weight of the ball, and the name of the manufacturer shall be 
stamped. He shall be sole judge of the fair and unfair play, and shall deter- 
mine all disputes and differences which may occur during the game; and 
there shall be no appeal from his decision, except through the Judiciary 
Committee of the Professional Association. He shall take special care to 
declare all foul balls and balks immediately upon their occurrence, in a dis- 
tinct and audible manner. He shall in every instance, before leaving the 
ground, declare the winning club, and shall record his decision in the books 
of the scorers. The umpire shall also require that the game be recorded by 
a scorer for each of the contesting clubs. In selecting an umpire for a match 
game, the visiting club shall submit the names of three persons, members of 
different clubs, whom they desire to act, at least five days before the day 
for play, and the local club shall select and answer not later than the follow- 
ing day, and all correspondence in relation thereto shall be by telegraph. 



The Playing Rules 241 

No game, however, shall be forfeited from the failure of the umpire to 
properly discharge his duties. 

Sec. 2. — Paying and Changing Umpires. — No person shall be permitted 
to act as umpire in any match if he receives compensation for his services 
as umpire. Neither shall the umpire be changed during a match, unless with 
the consent of both the captains of the contesting nines, except for reasons 
of illness or injury, or for violation of the above rules. 

Sec. 3. — Reversing Decisions. — No decision given by the umpire shall 
be reversed upon the testimony of any player ; and neither shall the umpire 
be guided in his decision by any such testimnoy. The captains of each 
nine shall alone be allowed to appeal for a reversal of the decision of the 
umpire, and then only in the case of a palpable error in misinterpreting 
the rules. 

Sec. 4. — Interfering with Umpires and Players. — No person shall be 
permitted to approach the umpire, or in any manner to interrupt or inter- 
fere during the progress of the game. The umpire shall require the captain 
or players of the side to the bat to remain at a reasonable distance (at least 
15 feet) from the home, first, third base, and outside the foul lines; also, 
to avoid interfering with the fielders when directing the movements of play- 
ers running the bases. If either side persists in infringing this rule the 
umpire shall declare the game forfeited by the score of 9 to 0, against the 
side violating it. 

Sec. 5. — Suspending Play. — The umpire in any match shall determine 
when play shall be suspended ; and, if the game cannot be fairly concluded, 
it shall be decided by the score of the last equal innings played ; unless one 
nine shall have completed their innings, and the other nine shall have 
exceeded the score of their opponents in their incompleted innings, in which 
case, the nine having the highest score shall be declared the winners; also 
in all games terminating similarly the total score obtained shall be recorded 
as the score of the game. 

Sec. 6. — Galling ^'Play" and ^^Time." — When the umpire calls "play," 
the game must at once be proceeded with, and the party failing to take their 
appointed position in the game within five minutes thereafter shall forfeit 
the game. All such forfeited games shall be recorded as won by a score of 
nine runs to none, and the game so won shall be placed to the credit of the 
nine ready to continue the game. When the umpire calls "time," play shall 
be suspended until he calls "play" again, and during the interim no player 
shall be put out, or base run or ball called. 

Sec. 7. — Ending a Game. — When the umpire "calls" a game it shall 
end ; but when he merely suspends play for any stated period, it may be 
resumed at the point at which it was suspended, provided such suspension 
does not extend beyond the day of the match. 

Sec. 8. — Dead Balls Delivered to the Bat. — Whenever a ball touches the 
umpire, or is accidentally stopped by him, unless it be a passed ball, it shall 
be considered dead, and not in play until again settled in the hands of the 
pitcher while in his position ; and no such dead ball shall put a player out, 
nor shall any base be run, or run scored on such a ball. 

Sec. 9. — In the case of a ball becoming ripped, out of shape, or, in the 
opinion of the umpire, otherwise unfit to play with, the umpire shall call 
for a new ball at the end of an even innings, said new ball to be furnished 
by the club furnishing the ball for the game. 

Sec. 10. — Betting Prohibited. — No person engaged in a match, either as 
umpire, scorer, or player, shall be either directly or indirectly interested in 
any bet upon the game. 

Sec. 11. — Infringing the Rules. — Any club wilfully infringing any rule 
df the game shall, after trial by the competent Judiciary Committee, be 
liable, for the first offence, to the penalty of suspension from membership of 
the Association, for any period the said committee may direct, not exceeding 
one year; and expulsion from such membership for the second offense. All 
games in which any of the rules of the Association are infringed shall also 
be considered forfeited games, and shall be recorded as games won by a 
score of nine runs to none, and against the club infringing the rules. 

EULE VII. MISCELLANEOUS. 

Section 1. — Special Ground Rules. — Clubs may adopt such rules respect- 
ing balls knocked beyond outside of the bounds of the field as the circum- 
stances of the ground may demand ; and these rules shall govern all matches 
16 



242 Richter's History and. Records of Base Ball 

played upon the ground, provided that they are distinctly made known to 
the umpire previous to the commencement of the game, but not otherwise. 

Sec. 2. — The Catcher's Fence. — No fence shall be erected within ninety 
feet back of the home base of a ball field, except such fence marks the bound- 
ary line of the grounds on which the field is laid. And in case such fence be 
located within ninety feet of the home base, then each ball passing the 
catcher and touching the fence shall give each base runner one base without 
his being put out. 

Sec. 3. — Stopping the Ball. — If a fielder stops the ball with his hat or 
cap, or if a ball be stopped in any way by a person or persons not engaged 
in the game, no player can be put out unless the ball shall first have been 
settled in the hands of the pitcher while he stands within the lines of his 
position. 

Sec. 4. — Obstructing Fielders. — Any player who shall intentionally pre- 
vent an adversary from catching or fielding the ball, or any base runner 
who shall, in any way, prevent a fielder from catching a fly ball from the 
bat — fair or foul — shall be declared out. 

Sec. 5. — The Batting Side Touching the Ball. — Any player who shall 
designedly let the ball strike him, or kick the ball when at the bat, or when 
running the bases, and thereby prevent an adversary from holding or field- 
ing such ball, shall be declared out. 

EULE VIII.— CHAMPIONSHIP. 

Section 1. — Application and Entry Fee. — All clubs desiring to contest 
for the championship must make application in writing to the chairman o'f 
the Championship Committee, hereinafter mentioned, on or before May 1st 
of each year, and no clubs to be admitted after that date, except in case of 
failure of application to reach him. Each application to be accompanied 
by a remittance of ($10) ten dollars. The chairman to keep a record of 
the clubs so applying, and to announce the names of the clubs contesting 
for the title, by 'publication. 

Sec. 2. — The Series of Games. — The series for the championship to be 
five games, each club to play five games with every other contesting club at 
such time and place as they may agree upon. All games must be played 
before November 1st of each year. 

Sec. 3. — Winning the Pennant. — ^The club winning the greatest number 
of games, in the championship series, with clubs entering "for the champion- 
ship during the season, shall be declared champions of the United States, 
and so certified to by a committee of three, who shall be appointed by the 
chairman of this Convention, and who shall be known as the Championship 
Committee, and to the chairman of which committee each club shall send 
its record on or before November 1st of each year. 

Sec. 4. — In Case of a Tie. — In case of a tie in total between two or 
more contesting clubs, the committee shall examine the records of the clubs 
so tieing and the one having the best average shall be declared champions 
of the United States. 

Sec. 5. — The EmUem. — A championship streamer shall be purchased by 
the said Championship Committee, with the funds accompanying the appli- 
cation of clubs, and they shall present the same on or before November 
15th, of each year, to the club entitled to receive it. 

Sec. 6. — Terms of Holding the Pennant. — ^The club winning the cham- 
pionship at the end of the season shall be entitled to fly the streamer until 
the close of the following season, and then the streamer must be given to 
the club that the Championship Committee shall declare to be entitled to 
receive it. 

RULES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD. 

These rules remained in force with the amendments above 
noted until the Nlational League of Base Ball Clubs was organ- 
ized in 1876, when the rules were again given an overhauling; 
without material change, however. Then, as in years afterward, 
the pitching rules were most troublesome. Up to this time the 
pitching distance was forty-five feet, with a box six by six feet, 



The Playing Rules 243 

but the pitcher was still supposed to "pitch" with a perpendicular 
swing of the arm, the delivery starting below the waist. The 
batsman had the privilege of calling for high or low balls and for 
failure to so pitch the pitcher was penalized by having a ball 
called on him after a "warning" by the umpire, and after three 
such warnings the batsman was entitled to first base. When the 
National League was organized in 1876 the forty-five feet dis- 
tance was retained, but the pitcher's box was reduced to four by 
six feet, and so remained until 1881. From 1868 to the '80s, a 
constant struggle was waged between the rule-makers, who desired 
to retain the legitimate pitch, and the pitchers, who desired almost 
to a man to supplant the "pitch" with the "throw," and this 
movement was made inevitable by the 

DISCOVERY OF THE CURVE BALL 

in 1867, by W. Arthur Cummings, of Ware, Mass., a noted profes- 
sional pitcher of that time. His great discovery was doubly 
remarkable from the fact that the delivery of any kind of a ball 
was restricted to below the waist. Cummings labored incessantly 
to perfect the curve ball delivery, and by 1870 he was master of 
it, despite the imposed restricted delivery. Gradually other pitch- 
ers acquired the curve, and by 1872 it had become quite common. 
Before that date also, most of the pitchers were constantly vio- 
lating the rules by "throwing" the ball and this gradually made 
the "pitch" rule a dead letter, and it was only a question of when 
an unrestricted delivery would be legalized. In 1872 the pitcher 
was first permitted to use a wrist or elbow "throw," but it was 
not until 1883 that the National League completely legalized the 
throw, but restricted the delivery to the height of the pitcher's 
shoulder. In the same year the National League abolished the 
"foul out on first bound," thus making the game entirely a "fly 
catch" game ; and in 1886 the American Association followed suit 
in this matter. With the throw had come the hop-skip- jump 
delivery, and to keep the pitcher from overstepping his boundary 
a marble slab was placed in front of the pitcher's box, within 
which, however, the pitcher was at liberty to assume any position. 
In 1879 the pitcher was first required to face the batsman, and 
the number of called balls was fixed at nine. In 1880 the number 
of called balls was reduced to eight; the catcher was required to 



244 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 






SeYm 



ffJBM 




A. A, A.— Ground reserved for Umpire, Batsman and Catcher, 

B. R. B.->Ground reserved for Captain and Assistant. 
C— Players Bench. 
D.— Visiting? Players Bat Racic 
E,--Home Players Bat Rack. 



THE FIELD IN 1882 



The Playing Rules 245 

catch the ball on the fly in order to put out a batsman on a third 
strike ; and a batsman was "out if hit by a batted ball." In 1881 the 

PITCHING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED 

to fifty feet with four by six feet box ; the number of called balls 
was reduced to seven; and the pitcher was penalized with a fine 
for hitting a batsman with a pitched ball. In 1882 also was incor- 
porated the rule forbidding the umpire to reverse any decision 
on a question of judgment. After 1882 important rule amend- 
ments which were made paved the way for the game as played 
now, or the "modern game," as it is called. We therefore deem it 
appropriate to give, as a matter of record, instruction, and com- 
parison, the Playing Rules in vogue in 1882, the last year of the 
ancient order. Following is an official copy of the 1882 Rules, 
from the Spalding Guide of that year: 

COPY OF THE PLAYING RULES IN 1882. 

CLASS I. — THE MATERIALS OF THE GAME. 

Rule 1. The ground must be an inclosed field, sufficient in size to enable 
each player to play in his position as required by these rules. 

Rule 2. The infield must be a space of ground thirty yards square. 
Rule 3. The bases must be : 

(1) Four in number, and designated as first base, second base, third 
base and home base. 

(2) The home base must be of white marble or white stone, twelve 
inches square, so fixed in the ground as to be even with the surface, and so 
placed in a corner of the infield that two of its sides will form part of the 
boundaries of said infield. 

(3) The first, second and third bases must be canvas bags, fifteen 
inches square, painted white, and filled with some soft material, and so 
placed that the center of each shall be upon a separate corner of the infield, 
the first base at the right, the second base opposite, and the third base at 
the left of the home base. 

(4) All the bases must be securely fastened in their positions, and so 
placed as to be distinctly seen by the umpire. 

Rule 4. The foul lines must be drawn in straight lines from the outer 
corner of the home base, through the center of the positions of first and 
third bases, to the boundaries of the ground. 

Rule 5. The pitcher's lines must be straight lines forming the bound- 
aries of a space of ground, in the infield, six feet long by four feet wide, 
distant fifty feet from the center of the home base, and so placed that the 
six feet lines would each be two feet distant from and parallel with a 
straight line passing through the center of the home and second bases. 
Each corner of this space must be marked by a flat iron plate or stone, six 
inches square, fixed in the ground, even with the surface. 

Rule 6. The catcher's lines must be drawn from the outer corner o'f 
the home base, in continuation of the foul lines, straight to the limits of 
the ground back of the home base. 

Rule 7. The captain's lines must be drawn from the catcher's lines to 
the limits of the ground, fifteen feet from and parallel with the foul lines. 

Rule 8. The players' lines must be drawn from the catcher's lines to 
the limits of the ground, fifty feet from and parallel with the foul lines. 

Rule 9. The players' bench must be furnished by the home club, and 
placed upon a portion of the ground outside the players' lines. It must be 
twelve feet in length and immovably fastened to the ground. At each end 



246 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

of such bench must be immovably fixed a bat-rack, with fixtures for holding 
twenty bats; one such rack must be designated for the exclusive use of the 
visiting club, and the other for the exclusive use of the home club. 

Rule 10. The batsman's lines must be straight lines forming the bound- 
aries of a space on the right, and of a similar space on the left of the home 
base, six feet long by three feet wide, extending three feet in front of and 
three 'feet behind the center of the home base, and with its nearest line 
distant one foot from the home base. 

Rule 11. The three feet lines must be drawn as follows: From a point 
on the foul line from home base to first base, and equally distant from such 
bases, shall be drawn a line on foul ground, at a right angle to said foul 
line, and to a point three feet distant from it; thence running parallel with 
said foul line, to a point three feet distant from the center of the first base ; 
thence in a straight line to the center of the first base, and thence upon the 
foul line to the point of beginning. 

Rule 12. The lines designated in Rules 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 must 
be marked with chalk or other suitable material, so as to be distinctly seen 
by the umpire. They must all be so marked their entire length, except the 
captain's and players' lines, which must be so marked "for a distance of at 
least thirty-five yards from the catcher's lines. 

Rule 13. The ball : 

(1) Must not weigh less than five nor more than five and one-quarter 
ounces avoirdupois, and measure not less than nine nor more than nine and 
one-quarter inches in circumference. It must be composed of woolen yarn, 
and contain not more than one ounce of vulcanized rubber in mould form, 
and be covered with leather. It must be furnished by the secretary of the 
league, whose seal shall be final evidence of the legality of the ball. 

(2) In all games the ball or balls played with shall be furnished by 
the home club, and become the property of the winning club. 

(3) Should the ball become out of shape, or cut or ripped so as to expose 
the yarn, or in any way so injured as to be unfit for fair use in the opinion 
of the umpire, on being appealed to by either captain, a new ball shall be 
called for by the umpire at the end of an even innings. 

(4) Should the ball be lost during the game, the umpire shall, at the 
expiration of five minutes, call for a new ball. 

Rule 14. The bat: 

(1) Must be made wholly of wood. 

(2) It must be round, must not exceed two and one-half inches in 
diameter in the thickest part, and must not exceed forty-two inches in length. 

CLASS II. — FIELD RULES. 

Rule 15. No club shall allow open betting or pool selling upon its 
grounds, nor in any building owned or occupied by it. 

Rule 16. No club shall sell or allow to be sold upon its grounds, nor in 
any building owned or occupied by it, any spirituous, vinous or malt liquors. 

Rule 17. No person shall be allowed upon any part of the field during 
the progress of the game, in addition to the nine players on each side and 
the umpire, except such officers of the law as m,ay be present in uniform 
to preserve the peace. 

Rule 18. Players in uniform shall not be permitted to seat themselves 
among the spectators. 

Rule 19. The umpire is the sole judge of play, and is entitled to the 
respect of the spectators, and any person hissing or hooting at, or offering 
any insult or indignity to him, must be promptly ejected from the grounds. 

Rule 20. Every club shall furnish sufficient police force upon its own 
grounds to preserve order, and in the event of a crowd entering the field 
during the progress of a game, and interfering with the play in any manner, 
the visiting club may refuse to play further until the field be cleared; and 
if the ground be not cleared within fifteen minutes thereafter, the visiting 
club may claim, and shall be entitled to, the game by a score of nine runs 
to none (no matter what number of innings have been played.) 

Rule 21. No manager, captain or player shall address the audience dur- 
ing the progress of a game, except in case of necessary explanation. 

CLASS in. — THE PLAYERS AND THEIR POSITIONS. 

Rule 22. The players of each club, in a match game, shall be nine in 
number, one of whom shall be the captain. 
Rule 23. The players' positions shall be : 



The Playing Rules 247 

(1) When in the field (designated "fielders" in these rules) such as 
may be assigned them by their captain, except that the pitcher must take his 
position within the pitcher's lines, as defined in Rule 5. 

(2) When their side goes to the bat they must immediately seat them- 
selves upon the players' bench, and remain there until the side is put out, 
except when batsman or base-runner. All bats not in use must be kept in 
the bat racks, and the two players next succeeding the batsman, in the order 
in which they are named on the score, must be ready with bat in hand to 
promptly take position as batsman : Provided, that the captain, and one 
assistant only, may occupy the space between the players' lines and the cap- 
tain's lines, to coach base-runners. 

(3) The batsmen must take their positions within the batsman's lines, 
as defined in Rule 10, in the order in which they are named on the score, 
which must contain the batting order of both nines and must be followed, 
except in case of disability of a player, in which case the substitute must 
take the place of the disabled player in the batting order. 

(4) No player of the side at bat, except when batsman, shall occupy 
any portion of the space within the catcher's lines as defined in Rule 6. 

CLASS IV. DEFINITIONS. 

Rule 24. A high ball is a ball legally delivered by the pitcher, over the 
home base, higher than the belt of the batsman, but not higher than his 
shoulder. 

Rule 25. A low ball is a ball legally delivered by the pitcher, over the 
home base, not higher than the batsman's belt, nor lower than his knee. 

Rule 26. A high or low ball is a ball legally delivered by the pitcher, 
over the home base, not higher than the batsman's shoulder, nor lower than 
his knee. 

Rule 27. A ^fair ball is a ball delivered by the pitcher, while wholly 
within the lines of his position and facing the batsman, with his arm swing- 
ing nearly perpendicularly by his side and his hand passing below his waist, 
and the ball passing over the home base at the height called for by the 
batsman. 

Rule 28. An unfair ball is a ball delivered by the pitcher as in Rule 27, 
except that the ball does not pass over the home base, or does not pass 
over the home base at the height called for by the batsman. 

Rule 29. A balk is: 

(1) A motion made by the pitcher to deliver the ball to the bat 
without delivering it, except the ball be accidentally dropped ; or, 

(2) The ball be held by the pitcher so long as to delay the game 
unnecessarily ; or, 

(3) Delivered to the bat by the pitcher when any part of his person 
is upon ground outside the lines of his position. 

Rule 30. A foul balk is a ball delivered to the bat by tne pitcher by 
an overhand throw, or any swing of the arm or hand other than that pre- 
scribed in Rule 27. 

Rule 31. A dead ball is a ball delivered to the bat by the pitcher, that 
touches the batsman's bat, without being struck at, or any part of the 
batsman's person while standing in his position, without being struck at, 
or any part of the umpire's person, without first passing the catcher. 

Rule 32. A block is a batted or thrown ball that is stopped or han- 
dled by any person not engaged in the game. 

Rule 33. A fair hit is a ball batted by the batsman, standing in his 
position, that first touches the ground, the first base, the third base, the 
person of a player, or any other object, in front of or on either of the foul 
lines, or (exception) batted directly to the ground by the batsman, stand- 
ing in his position, that (whether it first touches foul or fair groand) 
bounds or rolls within the foul lines between home and first, or home and 
third bases, without first touching the person of a player. 

Rule 34. A foul hit is a ball batted by the batsman, standing in his 
position, that first touches the ground, the person of a player, or any other 
object, behind either of the foul lines, or that strikes the person of such 
batsman, while standing in his position, or (exception) batted directly 
to the ground by the batsman, standing in his position, that (whether it 
first touches foul or fair ground) bounds or rolls outside the foul lines. 



248 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

between home and first or home and third bases, without first touching the 
person o'f a player. 

Rule 35. A strike is : 

(1) A ball struck at by the batsman without it touching his bat; or, 

(2) A ball legally delivered by the pitcher at the height called for by 
the batsman, and over the home base, but not struck at by the batsman. 

Rule 36. A foul strike is a ball batted by the batsman when any part 
of his person is upon ground outside the lines of the batsman's position. 

Rule 37. Play is the order of the umpire to begin the game, or to 
resume play after its suspension. 

Rule 38. Time is the order of the umpire to suspend play. Such sus- 
pension must not extend beyond the day of the game. 

Rule 39. Game is the announcement by the umpire that the game is 
terminated. 

Rule 40. An inning is the turn at bat of the nine players representing 
a club in a game, and is completed when three of such players have been 
put out as provided in these rules. 

Rule 41. A time at bat is the term at bat of a batsman. It begins 
when he takes his position, and continues until he is put out, or becomes 
a base runner. 

Rule 42. Legal, or legally, signifies as required by these rules. 

CLASS V. THE GAME. 

Rule 43. A game shall consist of nine innings to each contesting nine, 
except that: 

(1) If the side first at bat scores less runs in nine innings than the 
other side has scored in eight innings, the game shall then terminate. 

(2) If the side last at bat in the ninth innings scores the winning 
run before the third man is out, the game shall then terminate. 

(3) If the score be a tie at the end of nine innings to each side, play 
shall only be continued until the side first at bat shall have scored one or 
more runs than the other side, in an equal number of innings ; or until 
the other side shall score one more run than the side first at bat. 

(4) Xf the umpire calls "game" on account of darkness or rain at 
any time after five innings have been completed by both sides, the score 
shall be that of the last equal innings played, unless the side second at bat 
shall have scored one or more runs than the side first at bat, in which 
case the score of the game 'shall be the total number of runs made. 

Rule 44. A drawn game shaU be declared by the umpire when he ter- 
minates a game, on account of darkness or rain, after five equal innings 
have been played, if the score at the time is equal on the last even innings 
played; but (exception) if the side that went second to bat is then at the 
bat, and has scored the same number of runs as the other side, the umpire 
shall declare the game drawn, without regard to the score of the last 
equal innings. 

Rule 45. A forfeited game shall be declared by the umpire, in favor 
of the club not in fault, in the following cases : 

(1) If the nine of a club fail to appear upon the field, or, being upon 
the field, fail to begin the game, within five minutes after the umpire has 
called "play" at the hour appointed for the beginning of the game. 

(2) If, after the" game has begun, one side refuses or fails to continue 
playing, unless such game has been suspended or terminated by the umpire. 

(3) If, after play has been suspended by the umpire, one side fails to 
resume playing within five minutes after the umpire has called "play." 

(4) If the umpire calls three foul balks in one inning, and has warned 
the pitcher of the penalty after the second foul balk,- and before the third 
is called. 

(5) If, in the opinion of the umpire, any one of these rules is wil- 
fully violated. 

Rule 46. "No game" shall be declared by the umpire if he shall ter- 
minate play, on account of rain or darkness, before five innings on each 
side are completed. 

Rule 47. A substitute shall not be allowed to take the place of any 
player in a game, unless such player be disabled in the game then being 
played, by reason of illness or injury. 

Rule 48. The choice of first innings shall be determined by the two 
captains. 



The Playing Rules 249 

Hule 49. The umpire must call "play" at the hour appointed for 
beginning a game. The game must begin when the umpire calls "play." 
When he calls "time" play shall be suspended until he calls "play" again, 
and during the interim no player shall be put out, base be run, or run be 
scored. The umpire shall suspend play only for an accident to himself 
or a player (but in case of accident to a fielder, time shall not be called 
until the ball be returned to and held by the pitcher, standing in his 
position) ; or in case rain falls so heavily that the spectators are compelled, 
by the severity of the storm, to seek shelter, in v^hich case he shall note 
the time o'f suspension, and, should such rain continue to fall thirty min- 
utes thereafter, he shall terminate the game. The umpire shall also 
declare every "dead ball," "block," "foul hit," "foul strike," "balk" and 
"foul balk," and after declaring the second "foul balk" in one inning, 
shall warn the pitcher of the penalty prescribed by Rule 45 (4). 

Rule 50. The batsman, on taking his position, must call for a "high 
ball," a "low ball," or a "high or low ball," and the umpire shall notify 
the pitcher to deliver the ball as required ; such call shall not be changed 
after the first ball delivered. The umpire shall count and call every 
"unfair ball" delivered by the pitcher, and every "foul balk" and "dead 
ball," if also an "unfair ball," as a "ball ;" and he shall also count and 
call every "strike." Neither a "ball" nor a "strike" shall be called counted 
until the ball has passed the home base. 

Rule 51. The batsman is out: 

(1) If he fails to take his position at the bat in his order of batting, 
unless the error be discovered and the proper batsman takes his position 
before a fair hit has been made. 

(2) If he fails to take his position within one minute after the um- 
pire has called for the batsman. 

(3) If he makes a foul hit, and the ball be momentarily held by the 
fielder before touching the ground, or after touching the ground but once, 
provided it be not caught in a fielder's hat or cap, or touch some object 
other than the fielder before touching the ground, or before being caught. 

(4) If he makes a foul strike. 

(5) If he plainly attempts to hinder the catcher from catching the 
ball, evidently without effort to make a fair hit. 

Rule 52. The batsman becomes a base runner: 

(1) Instantly after he makes a fair hit. 

(2) Instantly after seven balls have been called by the umpire. 

(3) Instantly after three strikes have been declared by the umpire. 
Rule 53. The base runner must touch each base in regular order, 

viz. : First, second, third and home bases, and when obliged to return, 
must do so on the run, and must retouch the base or bases in reverse 
order. He shall only be considered as holding a base after touching it, 
and shall then be entitled to hold such base until he has legally touched 
the next base in order, or has been legally forced to vacate it for a 
succeeding base runner. 

Rule 54. The base runner shall be entitled, without being put out, 
to take one base, provided he do so on the run, in the following cases : 

(1) If, while he was batsman, the umpire called seven balls. 

(2) If the umpire awards a succeeding batsman a base on seven 
balls, and the base runner is thereby forced to vacate the base held by him. 

(3) If the umpire calls a balk. 

(4) If a ball delivered by the pitcher pass the catcher and touch 
any fence or building within ninety feet of the home base. 

(5) If he be prevented from making a base by the obstruction of 
an adversary. 

(6) If a fielder stop or catch a batted ball with his hat or any part 
of his dress. 

Rule 55. The base runner shall return to his base, and shall be 
entitled to so return without being put out, provided he do so on the run : 

(1) I'f the umpire declares a foul hit, and the ball be not legally 
caught by a fielder before touching the ground, or any object other than 
a fielder. 

(2) If the umpire declares a foul strike. 

(3) If the umpire declares a dead ball, unless it be also the seventh 



250 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

unfair ball, and he be thereby forced to take the next base, as provided in 
Rule 54 (2). 

Rule 56. The base runner shall not have a substitute run for him. 

Rule 57. The base runner is out : 

(1) If, after three strikes have been declared against him while 
batsman, and the catcher fails to catch the third-strike ball, he plainly 
attempts to hinder the catcher from fielding the ball. 

(2) If, having made a fair hit while batsman, such fair-hit ball 
be momentarily held by a fielder, before touching the ground or any object 
other than the fielder : Provided, it be not caught in the fielder's hat or 
cap. 

(3) If, when the umpire has declared three strikes on him while 
batsman, the third-strike ball be momentarily held by a fielder before touch- 
ing the ground : Provided, it be not caught in a fielder's hat or cap, or 
touch some object other than a fielder before being caught. 

(4) If, after three strikes or a fair hit, he be touched with the 
ball in the hand of a fielder before such base runner touches first base. 

(5) If, after three strikes or a fair hit, the ball be securely held by 
a fielder, while touching first base with any part of his person, before such 
base runner touches first base. 

(6) If, immediately after three strikes, seven balls, or a fair hit, 
he fails to run to first base. 

(7) If, in running the last half of the distance from home base to 
first base, he runs outside the three-feet lines, as defined in Rule 11, except 
that he must do so if necessary to avoid a fielder attempting to field a 
batted ball, and in such case shall not be declared out. 

(8) If, in running from first to second base, from second to third 
base, or from third to home base, he runs more than three feet from a 
direct line between such bases to avoid being touched by the ball in the 
hands of a fielder; but in case a fielder be occupying the base runner's 
proper path, attempting to field a batted ball, then the base runner shall 
run out of the path and behind said fielder, and shall not be declared out 
for so doing. 

(9) If he fails to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, 
in the manner prescribed in (7) and (8) of this rule, or if he, in any 
way, obstructs a fielder attempting to field a batted ball: Provided, that 
if two or more fielders attempt to field a batted ball, and the base runner 
comes in contact with one or more of thern, the umpire shall determine 
which fielder is entitled to the benefit of this rule, and shall not decide 
the base runner out for coming in contact with any other fielder. 

(10) If, at any time while the ball is in play, he be touched by the 
ball in the hand of a fielder, unless some part of his person is touching 
a base he is entitled to occupy, provided the ball be held by the fielder 
after touching him; but (exception as to first base) in running to first 
base he may overrun said base without being put out for being off said 
base, after first touching it, provided he returns at once and retouches 
the base, after which he may be put out as at any other base. If, in 
overrunning first base, he also attempts to run to second base, he shall 
forfeit such exemption from being put out. 

(11) If, when a fair or foul hit ball is legally caught by a fielder 
before it touches the ground, such ball is legally held by a fielder on the 
base occupied by the base runner when such ball was struck (or the base 
runner be touched with the ball in the hand of a fielder), before he re- 
touches said base after such fair or foul-hit ball was so caught : Provided, 
that the base-runner shall not be out in such case, if, after the ball was 
legally caught as above, it be delivered to the bat by the pitcher before 
the fielder holds it on the said base or touches the base runner with it. 

(12) If, when a batsman becomes a base runner (except as pro- 
vided in Rule 54), the first base, or the first and second bases, or 
the first, second and third bases, be occupied, any base runner so occupy- 
ing a base shall cease to be entitled to hold it, until any following base 
runner is put out, and may be put out at the next base, or by being 
touched by the ball in the hands of a fielder in the same manner as in 
running to first base, at any time before any following base runner is 
put out. 

(13) If a fair-hit ball strike him, he shall be declared out, and in 
such case no base shall be run unless forced, and no run be scored. 



The Playing Rules 251 

(14) If, when running to a base or forced to return to a base, he 
fail to touch the intervening base or bases, if any, in the order pre- 
scribed in Rule 53, he may be put out at the base if he fails to touch, 
or by being touched by the ball in the hand of a fielder, in the same 
manner as in running to first base : Provided, that he shall not be de- 
clared out unless the captain of the fielding side claim such decision be- 
fore the ball is delivered to the bat by the pitcher. 

(15) If, when the umpire calls "Play," after any suspension of a 
game, he fails to return to and touch the base he occupied when "Time" 
was called, before touching the next base. 

Rule 58. The umpire shall declare the batsman or base runner out, 
without waiting for an appeal for such decision, in all cases where such 
player is put out in accordance with these rules, except as provided in 
Rule 5T, (11), (14) and (15). 

Rule 59. In case of a foul strike, foul hit not legally caught 
flying, dead ball, or base runner put out *for being struck by a fair-hit 
ball, the ball shall not be considered in play until it is held by the pitcher 
standing in his position. 

Rule 60. Whenever a block occurs, the umpire shall declare it, and 
base runners may run the bases without being put out, until after the 
ball has been returned to and held by the pitcher standing in his position. 

Rule 61. One run shall be scored every time a base runner, after 
having legally touched the first three bases, shall touch the home base 
before three men are put out. If the third man is forced out, or is put 
out before reaching first base, a run shall not be scored. 

Rule 62. If the pitcher causes the ball to strike the batsman, and 
the umpire be satisfied that he does it intentionally, he shaU fine the 
pitcher therefor in a sum not less than ten dollars, nor more than 
fifty dollars. (See League contract, paragraph 11). 

Rule 63. No player except the captain or his assistant shall address 
the umpire concerning any point of play, and any violation of this rule 
shall subject the offender to a fine by the umpire. 

CLASS VI. — THE UMPIRE. 

Rule 64. The umpire shall be selected as follows : 

(1) Two clubs may, by mutual agreement, select any man to 
umpire any game or games, provided that such agreement be in writing, 
and the man so selected agrees not less than seven days before such game, 
or the first of such games, to act as such umpire. 

(2) A staff of League umpires shall be selected in the following 
manner : Prior to April 1st of each year, each club shall send to the 
secretary the names of any persons of good repute and considered com- 
petent to act as umpires. A list of all persons so nominated shall be 
prepared by the secretary, and submitted to each club, which shall then 
select therefrom a number equal to three times the number of clubs then 
in the League, and shall transmit a list thereof to the Secretary, and the 
required number having the greatest number of approvals shall constitute 
the staff of League umpires. 

(3) In case any League umpire shall enter the service of a League 
club as manager or player, or absent himself (except in performing the 
duties of League umpire) from the place designated on the secretary's 
record as his address, or find that he will be unable, for a definite period, 
to perform the duties of a League umpire, he shall immediately notify 
the secretary of the period of such service, absence or inability (and the 
secretary shall notify all league clubs), and, during such period, he shall 
not be eligible to serve as League umpire, nor be nominated to umpire any 
championship game. 

(4) Any umpire shall be removed who shall be objected to in writ- 
ing by two League clubs, after the commencement of the championship 
season, and, in the event of the declination, resignation or expulsion of 
any League umpire, the secretary shall nominate, to all League clubs, a 
man to replace him, and, unless he receive, by letter or telegram, the 
adverse vote of two League clubs on such nomination within five days 
thereafter, he shall notify all League clubs, and the person so nominated 
of his election as League umpire. 

(5) In the absence of the agreement provided for in (1) of this 
rule, the visiting club shall, by its president (or officer designated by 



252 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

him), if the club be at home, a.nd by its manager, if the club be absent 
from home, not less than five days before any championship game, submit 
by telegraph to the president (or oflScer designated by him) of the home 
club the names of seven League umpires, none of whom shall reside in 
the city of the visiting club. The home club shall then be charged with 
the duty of producing one of the seven so named upon the grounds in 
season for the game. 

(6) In case the visiting club shall have failed to furnish the seven 
names as provided in (5), the home club shall select an umpire for such 
game ; and in case the visiting club shall have furnished the seven names, 
as provided in (5), and the home club fails to produce one of the um- 
pires so named, within fifteen minutes before the hour appointed for the 
game, the visiting club shall select the umpire. 

Rule 65. The umpire's duties, in addition to those specified in the 
preceding rules, are : 

(1) Before the commencement of a match game, the umpire shall 
see that the rules governing all materials of the game are strictly ob- 
served. He shall ask the captain of the home club whether there are 
any special ground rules to be enforced, and, if there are, he shall see 
that they are duly enforced, provided they do not conflict with any of 
these rules. He shall also ascertain whether the fence in the rear of 
the catcher's position is distant ninety feet from the home base. 

(2) The umpire shall not reverse his decision on any point of play 
upon the testimony of any player engaged in the game or upon the testi- 
mony of any bystander. 

Rule 66. The umpire shall not be changed during the progress of a 
match game, except for reason of illness or injury, or by the consent of 
the captain of the two contesting nines. 

Rule 67. Any league umpire who shall be convicted of selling, or offer- 
ing to sell, a game of which he is umpire, shall thereupon be removed from 
his official capacity and placed under the same disabilities inflicted on 
expelled players by the constitution of the league. (See, also, Constitution, 
Section 45.) 

Rule 68. The umpire's jurisdictions and powers, in addition to those 
specified in the preceding rules, are : 

(1) The gentleman selected to fill the position of umpire must keep 
constantly in mind the fact that upon his sound discretion and promptness 
in conducting the game, compelling players to observe the spirit as well as 
the letter of the rules, and enforcing each and every one of the rules, largely 
depends the merit of the game as an exhibition, and the satisfaction 
of spectators therewith. He must make his decisions distinct and clear, 
remembering that every spectator is anxious to hear such decision. He 
must keep the contesting nines playing constantly from the commence- 
ment of the game to its termination, allowing such delays only as are 
rendered unavoidable by accident, injury or rain. He must, until the 
completion of the game, require the players of each side to promptly 
take their positions in the field as soon as the third hand is put out, and 
must require the first striker of the opposite side to be in his position at 
the bat as soon as the fielders are in their places. 

(2) The players of the side "at bat" must occupy the portion of the 
field allotted them, subject to the condition that they must speedily vacate 
any portion thereof that may be in the way of the ball, or any fielder 
attempting to catch or field it. The triangular space behind the home 
base is reserved for the exclusive use of the umpire, catcher and batsman, 
and the umpire must prohibit any player of the side "at bat" from crossing 
the same at any time while the ball is in the hands of the pitcher or 
catcher, or is passing between them, while standing in their positions. 

(3) Section 9 of the league constitution makes the league umpire a 
member of the league. During the progress of a game he is the sole rep- 
resentative of the League, to see that the game is played and determined 
solely on its merits, and these rules invest him with ample powers to 
accomplish this purpose. In the performance of his duties he must remem- 
ber that his sole allegiance is due to the League, and that the circumstance 
of his fees and expenses being paid by the visiting club places him under 
no obligation whatever to such club. Such expenses are equally borne by 
all league clubs, taking the season as a whole ; hence the visiting club 



The Playing Rules 253 

merely acts as paymaster of the league so far as the umpire is concerned. 

(4) The umpire is master of the field from the commencement to the 
termination of the game, and must compel the players to observe the pro- 
visions of all the playing rules, and he is hereby invested with authority 
to order any player to do or omit to do any act, as he may deem it neces- 
sary to give force and effect to any and all of such provisions, and power 
to inflict upon any player disobeying any such order a fine of not less than 
five nor more than fifty dollars for each offense, and to impose a similar 
fine upon any player who shall use abusive, threatening or improper lan- 
guage to the umpire, audience, or other player, and when the umpire shall 
have so punished the player, he shall not have the power to revoke or remit 
the penalty so inflicted. (See League Contract, paragraph 11.) 

(5) The umpire shall at once notify the captain of the offending 
player's side of the infliction of any fine herein provided for, and the club 
to which such player belongs shall, upon receipt of a notice of said fine 
from the secretary of the league, within ten days transmit the amount of 
such fine to the secretary of the league. 

(6) In case the umpire imposes a fine on a player, or declares a game 
forfeited, he shall transmit a written notice thereof to the secretary of 
the league within twenty-four hours thereafter; and if he shall fail to do so, 
he shall forfeit his position as league umpire, and shall forever thereafter be 
ineligible to umpire any league game. 

Rule 69. For the special benefit of ttie patrons of the game, and 
because the offenses specified are under his immediate jurisdiction, and not 
subject to appeal by players, the attention of the umpire is particularly 
directed to possible violations of the purpose and spirit of the rules, of the 
following character : 

(1) Laziness or loafing of players in taking their places in the field, 
or those allotted them by the rules when their side is at bat, and especially 
any failure to keep the bats in the racks provided for them:; to be ready 
(two men) to take position as batsman, and to remain upon the players' 
bench except when otherwise required by the rules. 

(2) Any attempt by players of the side at bat, by calling to a fielder 
other than the one designated by his captain, to field a ball, or by any other 
equally disreputable means seeking to disconcert a fielder. 

(3) Indecent or improper language addressed by a player to the audi- 
ence, the umpire, or any player. 

In any of these cases the umpire should promptly fine the offending 
player. 

(4) The rules make a marked distinction between hindrance of an 
adversary in fielding a batted or a thrown ball. This has been done to rid 
the game of the childish excuses and claims formerly made by a fielder fail- 
ing to hold a ball to put out a base runner, but there may be cases of a 
base runner so flagrantly violating the spirit of the rules and of the game 
in obstructing a fielder from fielding a thrown ball, that it would become 
the duty of the umpire not only to declare the base runner "out" (and to 
compel any succeeding base runners to hold their bases), but also to impose 
a heavy fine upon him. For example : If the base runner plainly strike 
the ball while passing him, to prevent its being caught by a fielder; if he 
hold a fielder's arm so as to disable him from catching the ball, or if he 
knock the fielder down with his fist for the same purpose. 

(5) In the case of a "block," if the person not engaged in the game 
should retain possession of the ball, or throw or kick it beyond the reach 
of the fielders, the umpire should call "time," and require each base runner 
to stop at the last base touched by him, until the ball be returned to the 
pitcher, standing in his position. 

(6) The umpire must call "play" at the exact time advertised for 
beginning a game, and any player not then ready to take the position 
allotted him must be promptly fined by the umpire. 

(7) The umpire is only allowed, by the rules to call "time" in case of 
an accident to himself or a player, or in case of rain, as defined by the 
rules. The practice of players suspending the game to discuss or contest 
a decision with the umpire, is a gross violation of the rules, and the umpire 
should promptly fine any player who interrupts the game in this manner. 

CLASS VII. — SCORING. 

Rule 70. In order to promote uniformity in scoring championship 



254 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

games, the following instructions, suggestions and definitions are made 
for the benefit of scorers of league clubs, and they are required to make 
the scores mentioned in Section 80 of the league constitution in accord- 
ance therewith. 
Batting : 

(1) The first item in the tabulated score, after the player's name and 
position, shall be the number of times he has been at bat during the game. 
Any time or times where the player has been sent to base on called balls 
shall not be included in this column. 

(2) In the second column should be set down the runs made by each 
player. 

(3) In the third column should be placed the first base hits made by 
each player. A base hit should be scored in the following cases : 

When the ball from the bat strikes the ground between the foul lines, 
and out of reach of the fielders. 

When a hit is partially or wholly stopped by a fielder in motion, but 
such player cannot recover himself in time to handle the ball before the 
striker reaches first base. 

When the ball is hit so sharply to an infielder that he cannot handle 
it in time to put out a man. In case of doubt over this class of hits, score 
a base hit and exempt fielder from the charge of an error. 

When a ball is hit so slowly toward a fielder that he cannot handle it 
in time to put out a man. 

(4) In the fourth column should be placed to the credit of each player 
the total bases made by him off his hits. 

Fielding : 

(5) The number of opponents put out by each player shall be set 
down in the fifth column. Where a striker is given out by the umpire for 
a foul strike, or because he struck out of his turn the put-out shall be 
scored to the catcher. 

(6) The number of times the player assists shall be set down in the 
sixth column. An assist should be given to each player who handles the 
ball in a run-out or other play of the kind. 

An assist should be given to the pitcher when a batsman fails to hit 
the ball on the third strike. 

An assist should be given to the pitcher in each case where the bats- 
man is declared out for making a foul strike or striking out of turn. 

An assist should be given to a player who makes a play in time to 
put a runner out, even if the player who should complete the play fails, 
through no fault of the player assisting. 

And generally an assist should be given to each player who handles the 
ball from the time it leaves the bat until it reaches the player who makes 
the put-out, or in case of a thrown ball, to each player who throws or han- 
dles it cleanly, and in such a way that a put-out results or would result if 
no error were made by the receiver. 

(7) An error should be given for each misplay which allows the striker 
or base runner to make one or more bases, when perfect play would have 
insured his being put out. In scoring errors off batted balls, see (3) of 
this rule. 

CLASS VIII. — CONSTRUCTION AND AMENDMENTS. 

Rule 71, No section of these rules shall be construed as conflicting 
with or affecting any article of the constitution of the league. 

Rule 72. No amendment or change of any of these rules shall be made, 
except in the manner provided in the constituti6n of the league. 

RULES OF THE CULMINATING PERIOD. 

As noted above, in 1883, the National League abolished the 
"foul bound catch," this giving us the modem "fly catch" game. 
In this year also the pitcher was permitted to start his delivery 
over his head, but he had to pitch it level with, or below, his 
shoulder. In 1884 all restrictions on the overhand delivery of 




James A. Haet 

Chairman of National League Rules Committee in the '90s, and 
Father of Foul-Strike Rule 



The Playing Rules 255 

the pitcher were removed; but he was compelled to keep both 
feet on the ground and permitted to take but one step in delivery, 
thus ending the old range of movement in the delivery. The 
pitcher's box was reduced to six by four feet, and the batsman's 
box was brought to within six inches of the home plate. In this 
year also "wild pitches," "passed balls," and "missed third 
strikes" were classified as "battery errors," and the called balls 
were reduced to six. In 1885 the number of bases on balls was 
again increased to seven — for the last time, as in 1886 the num- 
ber was again fixed at six. In 1886 also the pitcher's box was 
increased to 7x4 feet. In the Fall of 1886 

THE FIRST JOINT RULES COMMITTEE 

of record, composed of representatives of the National League 
and the American Association, met and made radical changes in 
the rules. The pitcher's box was made four by five and one-half 
feet; the batsman's privilege of calling for high or low ball was 
abolished; the pitcher was required to keep both feet on the 
ground, and to take but one step in delivery; the number of 
called balls was reduced to five, and the number of strikes in- 
creased from three to four; bases on balls were recorded as 
base hits; the batsman was exempted from a time at bat when 
hit by a pitched ball; an obvious attempt to foul the ball was 
penalized as a strike; choice of first inning was given to the 
home club; first and third bases were placed within the foul 
lines; and the Spalding and Reach balls were designated as the 
standard, and therefore official, balls, for the first time in the 
Playing Rules Code. In the Fall of that year also, the double 
umpire system was first tried in the Chicago-St. Louis World's 
Series, and was subsequently employed by the American Associa- 
tion, only to be discontinued after a trial of two years, for reasons 
of economy. These 

CHANGES PROVED ADVANTAGEOUS, 

with the exception of the four-strike rule, which proved so 
unpopular that in the Fall of 1887 it was repealed, and the famil- 
iar order of "three strikes and out" was restored. The number 
of called balls was retained at five, and bases on balls no longer 
counted as base hits, but an exemption from a time at bat for the 



256 RiCHTER^s History and Records of Base Ball 

batsman. In 1888 also the umpire was first empowered to eject 
an unruly player from the game after a first offense had been pun- 
ished by a fine. Since 1888 the changes in the rules have been 
few, but quite important. In 1889 the number of called balls 
was placed at four, which has been the rule ever since ; and that 
year, also, the sacrifice bunt or fly hit was given its first recogni- 
tion by being accorded a place in the box score, but exemption 
from a time at bat for the infield sacrifice hit was not granted 
until 1893. In 1 89 1 the rule allowing substitution of any player 
at any time during a game was adopted; large padded mitts for 
catchers were permitted. In 1891, also, a "runs batted in" 
column was added to the scoring rules (for that year only). In 

1892 the coachers were restricted to two. In 1894 bunted foul 
balls were classified as "strikes." In 1895 the "infield fly" rule was 
adopted; and the "foul-tip" was classified as a "strike," if caught. 
In 1898 the "earned run" was eliminated. In 1900 the present 
home plate was adopted. But the most important and far-reach- 
ing change was made by the National League, then a twelve-club 
monopoly, in 1893, relating to the battery department. The 
pitching distance was lengthened to sixty and one-half feet, the 
box was abolished and a marble slab twelve by six inches was 
substituted, against which the pitcher was obliged to place his rear 
foot and from which he could take but one step, his movement in 
all other ways being unrestricted. The pitching distance was 
made sixty feet five inches in 1894, and the slab, in 1895, was 
enlarged to twenty- four by six inches. This radical change of 

1893 was designed 

TO increase the batting^ 

which had suffered considerably under ever-increasing pitcher 
dominance since the legalization of the overhand delivery and the 
abolishment of the batsman's high-and-low-ball call privilege. 
This rule was effective for a time only, as it was discovered that 
the lengthened distance favored rather than handicapped the 
pitcher, as it enabled him to control and curve the ball better. 
To offset this the batsmen resorted to fouling-off tactics to tire 
out pitchers to such a degree that games began to drag. The 
National League found a cure for this in 1901, when it adopted 
the "foul strike" rule, under which all balls batted foul and not 



The Playing Rules 257 

caught were called strikes to the number of two, after which the 
put-out on the third strike had to be made in the regular manner. 
At the same time a rule was made obliging the catcher to remain 
continuously under the bat. The two rules, operating together, 
were designed to eliminate the unpopular "fouling-off" practice 
and to save time. Intentional fouling had been penalized with a 
called strike, but the question of "intention" raised such inces- 
sant argument that umpires permitted the rule to fall into desue- 
tude. The two new rules served admirably for some years, after 
the American League, in 

THE INTEREST OF UNIFORMITY, 

also adopted the innovation in 1903 ; but in the course of time 
the rule favored the pitcher so much that means had to be taken 
to check, or at least minimize, the effects of pitcher dominance, 
and this was found in 1909, when President Benjamin F. Shibe, 
of the Philadelphia American League Club — a member of the 
A. J. Reach Company, of Philadelphia, which manufactures an 
overwhelming majority of the base balls used in organized ball — 
invented the cork center for the ball instead of the rubber center 
heretofore in universal use. The cork center increased the 
resilience of the ball without in the least changing its specifica- 
tions, and thereby appreciably increased the batting without 
affecting the fielding in the slightest degree. This ball is now in 
use by the two major leagues and the leading minor leagues and 
is therefore justly to be considered as the standard ball of the 
world of organized ball. 

RULES OF THE CULMINATING PERIOD. 

Since the adoption of the new National Agreement in 1903, 
the matter of rules revision has been under the sole jurisdiction 
of a joint Rules Committee, which at various times made a few 
minor changes. In 1908 this Committee recodified the rules, that 
is, rearranged the various parts in their logical order and places 
and re-numbered them accordingly, at the same time making some 
important changes in phraseology and minor points of play — 
except as to the umpires, whose powers were enlarged and duties 
more accurately defined. Since that year there have been no 
changes in the Playing Rules and only a few minor changes in 
17 



258 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 




INOTR— For Specifications see Rules from No. 2 to No. 12. 



THE FIELD IN 1913 



The Playing Rules 259 

the Scoring Rules. It is possible that for 19 14 there may be a 
remodeling of the "infield fly" rule, which is differently inter- 
preted in the two major leagues, and an addition to the balk 
rules, making the "dropping of the ball" by the pitcher while in 
the act of delivery, whether intentional or not, a balk. In all 
respects the Playing Rules Code now fully answers its purpose 
and is, therefore, virtually perfect. Herewith is given the official 
Playing Rules Code for 191 3 entire; as published in the Official 
American League and National League Guides of that year : 

The Official 1913 Code of Playing Rules for Playing Base Ball. 
Adopted in Accordance With the National Agreement. 

Rule l.^—The Ball Ground. — The ball ground must be enclosed. To 
obviate the necessity for ground rules, the shortest distance from a fence or 
stand on fair territory to the home base should be 235 feet, and from home 
base to the grand stand 90 feet. 

Rule 2. — To Lay Ojf the Field. — To lay off the lines defining the loca- 
tion of the several bases, the catcher's and the pitcher's position, and to 
establish the boundaries required in playing the game of Base Ball proceed 
as follows : 

Diamond or Infield. — From a point, A, within the grounds, project a 
straight line out into the field, and at a point B, 154 feet from point A, 
lay off lines B C and B D at right angles to the line A B ; then with B 
as a center and 63.63945 feet as a radius, describe arcs cutting the lines 
B A at F and B C at G, B D at H and B E at I. Draw lines F G, 
G E, EH, and H F, which said lines shall be the containing lines of the 
diamond or infield. 

Rule 3. — The Catcher's Lines. — With F as a center and 10 feet radius, 
describe an arc cutting line F A at L and draw lines L M and L O at 
right angles to F A, and continue same out from F A not less than 10 feet. 

Rule 4. — The Foul Lines. — From the intersection point, F, continue 
the straight lines F G and F H until they intersect the lines L M and 
L O, and then from the points G and H in the opposite direction until 
they reach the boundary lines of the ground, and said lines shall be clearly 
visible from any part of the diamond, and no wood or other hard substance 
shall be used in the construction of such lines. 

Rule 5. — The Players' Lvnes. — With F as a center and 50 feet radius, 
describe arcs cutting lines F O and F M at P and Q, then with F as center 
again and 75 feet radius, describe arcs cutting F G and F H at R and S ; 
then, from the points P, Q, R and S draw lines at right angles to the lines 
F O, F M, F G and F H, and continue the same until they intersect at 
the points T and W. 

Rule 6. — The Coachers' Lines. — With R and S as centers and 15 feet 
radius, describe arcs cutting the lines R W and S T at X and Y, and 
from the points X and Y draw lines parallel with the lines F H and F G, 
and continue same out to the boundary lines of the ground. 

Rule 7. — The Three-Foot Line. — With F as a center and 45 feet 
radius, describe an arc cutting the line F G at 1, and from 1 to the 
distance of three feet draw a line at right angles to F G, and marked 
point 2 ; then from point 2 draw a line parallel with the line F G to a 
point three feet beyond the point G, marked 3 ; then from the point 3 
draw a line at right angles to line 2, 3, back to and intersecting with F G, 
and from thence back along the line G F to point 1. 

Rule 8. — The Batsman's Lines. — On either side of the line A F B 
describe two parallelograms six feet long and four feet wide (marked 8 
and 9), their longest side being parallel with the line A F B, their dis- 
tance apart being six inches, added to each end of the length of the diagonal 
of the square within the angle F, and the center of their length being on 
said diagonal. 



26o Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Rule 9. Sec. 1. — The Pitcher's Plate. — With point F as center and 
60.5 feet as radius, describe an arc cutting the line F B at line 4 and 
draw a line 5, 6, passing through point 4 and extending 12 inches on 
either side of line F B ; then, with line 5, 6, as a side, describe a paral- 
lelogram 24 inches by 6 inches, in which shall be located the pitcher's plate. 

Sec. 2. — The pitcher's plate shall not be more than 15 inches higher 
than the base lines or the home plate, which shall be level with the sur- 
face of the field and the slope from the pitcher's plate to every base line 
and the home plate shall be gradual. 

Rule 10. Sec. 1. — The Bases. — Within the angle F, describe a five- 
sided figure, two of the sides of which shall coincide with the lines F G 
and F H to the extent of 12 inches each, thence parallel with the line 
F B 8^/^ inches to the points X and Y, a straight line between which, 
17 inches, will form the front of the home base or plate. 

Sec. 2. — Within the angles at G, I and H, describe squares, whose 
sides are 15 inches in length, two of such sides of which squares shall lie 
along the lines F G and G I, and G I and I H and I H and H F, which 
squares shall be the location of the first, second and third bases re- 
spectively. 

Rule 11. — The Home Base at F and the Pitcher's Plate at 4 must 
each be of whitened rubber, and so fixed in the ground as to be even with 
its surface. 

Rule 12. — The First Base at G, the Second Base at E, and the Third 
Base at H, must each be a white canvas bag filled with soft material and 
securely fastened in place at the points specified in Rule 10. 

Rule 13. — The lines described in Rules 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 must be 
marked with lime, chalk or other white material, easily distinguishable 
from the ground or grass. 

Rule 14. Sec. 1. — The Ball. — The ball must weigh not less than five 
nor more than five and one-quarter ounces avoirdupois, and measure not 
less than nine nor more than nine and one-quarter inches in circumference. 
The Reach American League Ball or the Spalding National League BalL 
must be used in all games played under these rules. 

Sec. 2. — Two regulation balls of the make adopted by the league of 
which the contesting clubs are members, shall be delivered by the home 
club to the umpire at or before the hour for the commencement of a cham- 
pionship game. If the ball placed in play be batted or thrown out of the 
grounds or into one of the stands for spectators, or in the judgment of 
the umpire becomes unfit for play from any cause, the umpire shall at once 
deliver the alternate ball to the pitcher and another legal ball shall be 
supplied to him, so that he shall at all times have in his control one or 
more alternate balls. Provided, however, that all balls batted or thrown 
out of the ground or into a stand shall, when returned to the field, be 
given into the custody of the umpire immediately, and become alternate 
balls, and so long as he has in his possession two or more alternate balls he 
shall not call for a new ball to replace one that has gone out of play. 
The alternate balls shall become the ball in play in the order in which 
they were delivered to the umpire. 

Sec. 3. — Immediately upon the delivery to him of the alternate ball 
hy the umpire, the pitcher shall take his position and on the call of "Play" 
by the umpire, it shall become the ball in play. Provided, however, that 
play shall not be resumed with the alternate ball, when a fair batted ball 
or a ball thrown by a fielder goes out of the ground or into a stand for 
spectators until the base runners have completed the circuit of the bases 
unless compelled to stop at second or third base, in compliance with a 
ground rule. 

Sec. 4. — Discolored or Damaged Balls. — In the event of a ball being 
intentionally discolored by rubbing it with the soil or otherwise by any 
player, or otherwise damaged by any player, the umpire shall forthwith 
demand the return of that baU and substitute for it another legal ball as 
hereinbefore described, and impose a fine of $5.00 upon the offending 
player. 

Sec. 5. — Home Olub to Provide Balls. — In every game the balls played 
with shall be furnished by the home club, and the last in play shall become 
the property of the winning club. Each ball shall be enclosed in a paper 
box, which must be sealed with the seal of the President of the League 



The Playing Kules 261 

and bear his certificate that he has examined, measured and weighed 
the ball contained therein, and that it is of the required standard in 
all respects. The seal shall not be broken by the umpire except in the 
presence of the captains of the contesting teams after "Play" has been 
called. 

Sec. 6. — Reserve Balls on Field. — The home club shall have at least 
a dozen regulation balls on the field during each championship game ready 
'for use on the call of the umpire. 

Rule 15. — The Bat. — The bat must be round, not over two and three- 
fourths inches in diameter at the thickest part, nor more than 42 inches 
in length and entirely of hard wood, except that for a distance of 18 
inches from the end twine may be wound around or a granulated substance 
applied to the handle. 

Rule 16. — Number of Players in a Game. — The players of each club, 
actively engaged in a game at one time, shall be nine in number, one of 
whom shall act as captain ; and in no case shall more or less than nine 
men be allowed to play on a side in a game. 

Rule 17. — Positions of the Players. — The players of the team not 
at bat may be stationed at any points on fair ground their captain may 
elect, regardless of their respective positions, except that the pitcher, 
While in the act of delivering the ball to the bat, must take his position 
as defined in Rules 9 and 30 ; and the catcher must be within the lines 
of his position as defined in Rule 3 and within 10 feet of home base when- 
ever the pitcher delivers the ball to the bat. 

Rule 18. — Must Not Mingle With Spectators. — Players in uniform 
shall not be permitted to occupy seats in the stands, or to mingle with the 
spectators. 

Rule 19. — Uniforms af Players. — Every club shall adopt two uniforms 
for its players, one to be worn in games at home, and the other in games 
abroad, and the suits of each of the uniforms of a team shall conform in 
color and style. No player who shall attach anything to the sole or heel 
of his shoe other than the ordinary base ball shoe plate, or shall appear 
in a uniform not conforming to the suits of the other members of his 
team, shall be permitted to take part in a game. 

Rule 20. — Size and Weight of Gloves. — The catcher or first baseman 
may wear a glove or mitt of any size, shape or weight. Every other player 
is restricted to the use of a glove or mitt weighing not over 10 ounces 
and measuring not over 14 inches around the palm. 

Rule 21. Sec. 1. — Players^ Benches. — Players' benches must be fur- 
nished by the home club and placed upon a portion of the ground not 
less than twenty-five (25) feet outside of the players' lines. One such 
bench shall be for the exclusive use of the visiting team and the other for 
the exclusive use of the home team. Each bench must be covered with 
a roof and closed at the back and each end; a space, however, not more 
than six (6) inches wide may be left under the roof for ventilation. All 
players and substitutes of the side at bat must be seated on their team's 
bench, except the batsman, base runners, and such as are legally assigned 
to coach base runners. Under no circumstances shall the umpire permit 
any person except the players and substitutes in uniform and the manager 
of the team entitled to its exclusive use to be seated on a bench. 

Sec. 2. — Penalty for Violation. — Whenever the umpire observes a 
violation of the preceding section he shall immediately order such player 
or players as have disregarded it to be seated. If the order be not obeyed 
within one minute the offending player or players shall be fined $5.00 each 
by the umpire. If the order be not then obeyed within one minute the 
offending player or players shall be debarred from further participation 
in the game, and shall be obliged to forthwith leave the playing field. 

Rule 22. — A Regulation Game. — Every championship game must be 
commenced not later than two hours before sunset and shall continue until 
each team has had nine innings, provided, however, that the game shall 
terminate : 

Sec. 1. — If the side first at bat scores less runs in nine innings than 
the other side has scored in eight innings. 

Sec. 2. — If the side last at bat in the ninth inning scores the winning 
run before the third man is out. 

Sec. 3. — If the game be called by the umpire on account of darkness, 



262 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

rain, fire, panic, or for other cause, which puts patrons or players in peril. 

Rule 23. — Extra-Inning Games. — If the score be a tie at the end of 
nine (9) innings for each team, play shall be continued until one side has 
scored more runs than the other in an equal number of innings ; provided, 
that if the side last at bat score the winning run before the third man is 
out in any inning after the ninth, the game shall terminate. 

Rule 24. — Drawn Games. — A drawn game shall be declared by the 
umpire if the score is equal on the last even inning played when he termin- 
ates play in accordance with Rule 22, Section 3, after five or more equal 
innings have been played by each team. But if the side that went second 
to bat is at bat when the game is terminated, and has scored the same 
number of runs as the other side, the umpire shall declare the game 
drawn without regard to the score of the last equal inning. 

Rule 25. — Galled Games. — If the umpire calls a game in accordance 
with Rule 22, Section 3, at any time after five innings have been com- 
pleted, the score shall be that of the last equal innings played, except 
that if the side second at bat shall have scored in an unequal number of 
innings, or before the completion of the unfinished inning, at least one 
run more than the side first at bat, the score of the game shall be the 
total number of runs each team has made. 

Rule 26. — Forfeited Games. — A forfeited game shall be declared by 
the umpire in favor of the club not in fault, in the following cases : 

Sec, 1. — If the team of a club fail to appear upon the field, or being 
upon the field, refuse to begin a game for which it is scheduled or assigned, 
within five minutes after the umpire has called "Play" at the hour for 
the beginning of the game, unless such delay in appearing or in commencing 
the game be unavoidable. 

Sec. 2. — If, after the game has begun, one side refuse to continue to 
play, unless the game has been suspended or terminated by the umpire. 

Sec. 3. — If, after play has been suspended by the umpire, one side 
fails to resume playing in one minute after the umpire has called "Play." 

Sec. 4. — If a team employ tactics palpably designed to delay the 
game. 

Sec. 5. — If, after warning by the umpire, any one of the rules of the 
game be wilfully and persistently violated. 

Sec. 6. — If the order for the removal of a player, as authorized by 
Rules 21, 58 and 67 be not obeyed within one minute. 

Sec. 7. — If, because of the removal of players from the game by the 
umpire, or for any cause, there be less than nine players on either team. 

Sec. 8. — If, after the game has been suspended on account of rain, 
the orders of the umpire are not complied with as required by Rule 29. 

Sec. 9. — If, when two games are scheduled to be played in one 
afternoon, the second game be not commenced within ten minutes of the 
time of the completion of the first game. The umpire of the first game 
shall be the timekeeper. 

Sec. 10. — In case the umpire declare the game forfeited, he shall 
transmit a written report thereof to the President of the League within 
twenty-four hours thereafter. However, a failure on the part of the um- 
pire to so notify the President shall not affect the validity of his award of 
the game by forfeiture. 

Rule 27. — ISlo Game. — "No game" shall be declared by the umpire if 
he terminates play in accordance with Rule 22, Section 3, before five in- 
nings are completed by each team. Provided, however, that if the club 
second at bat shall have made more runs at the end of its fourth inning 
than the club first at bat has made in five completed innings of a game so 
terminated, the umpire shall award the game to the club having made 
the greater number of runs, and it shall count as a legal game in the 
championship record. 

Rule 28. Sec. 1. — Substitutes. — Each side shall be required to have 
present on the field during a championship game a sufficient number of 
substitute players, in uniform, conforming to the suits worn by their team- 
mates, to carry out the provisions of this code, which requires not less 
than nine players shall occupy the field in any inning of the game. 

Sec. 2. — Any such substitute may at any stage of the game take the 
place of a player whose name is in his team's batting order, but the 
player whom he succeeds shall not thereafter participate in that game. 



The Playing Rules 263 

Sec. 3. — A base runner shall not have another player whose name 
appears in the batting order of his team run for him, except by the con- 
sent of the captain of the other team. 

Sec. 4. — Whenever one player is substituted for another, whether as 
batsman, base runner or fielder, the captain of the side making the change 
must immediately notify the umpire, who in turn must announce the 
same to the spectators. A fine of $5.00 shall be assessed by the umpire 
against the captain for each violation of this rule, and the President of 
the League shall impose a similar fine against the umpire who, after 
having been notified of a change, fails to make proper announcement. 
Play shall be suspended while announcement is being made, and the 
player substituted shall become actively engaged in the game immediately 
upon his captain's notice of the change to the umpire. 

Rule 29. — Choice of Innings. — Fitness of Field for Play. — The choice 
of innings shall be given to the captain of the home club, who shall be the 
sole judge of the fitness of the ground for beginning a game after a rain ; but 
after play has been called by the umpire, he alone shall be the judge as to 
the fitness of the ground for resuming play after the game has been sus- 
pended on account of rain ; and when time is so called the groundkeeper 
and sufiicient assistants shall be under the control of the umpire for the 
purpose of putting the grounds in proper shape for play, under penalty 
of forfeiture of the game by the home team. 

THE PITCHING RULES. 

Rule 30. — Delivery of the Ball to the Bat. — Preliminary to pitching 
the pitcher shall take his position facing the batsman with both feet 
squarely on the ground and in front of the pitcher's plate ; and in the 
act of delivering the ball to the bat he must keep one foot in contact with 
the pitcher's plate defined in Rule 9. He shall not raise either foot until 
in the act of delivering the ball to the bat, nor make more than one step 
in such delivery. 

Rule 31. — A Fairly Delivered Ball. — A fairly delivered ball is a ball 
pitched or thrown to the bat by the pitcher while standing in his position 
and facing the batsman that passes over any portion of the home base, 
before touching the ground, not lower than the batsman's knee, nor higher 
than his shoulder. For every such fairly delivered ball the umpire shall 
call one strike. 

Rule 32. — An Unfairly Delivered Ball. — An unfairly delivered ball is a 
ball delivered to the bat by the pitcher while standing in his position and 
facing the batsman that does not pass over any portion of the home 
base between the batsman's shoulder and knees, or that touches the ground 
before passing home base, unless struck at by the batsman ; or, with the 
bases unoccupied any ball delivered by the pitcher while either foot is 
not in contact with the pitcher's plate. For every unfairly delivered ball 
the umpire shall call one ball. 

Rule 33. Sec. 1. — Delaying the Game. — If, after the batsman be 
standing in his proper position ready to strike at a pitched ball, the ball 
be thrown by the pitcher to any player other than the catcher when in 
the catcher's lines and within 10 feet of the home base (except in an at- 
tempt to retire a base runner), each ball so thrown shall be called a ball. 

Sec. 2. — The umpire shall call a ball on the pitcher each time he 
delays the game by failing to deliver the ball to the batsman for a longer 
period than 20 seconds, excepting that at the commencement of each 
inning, or when a pitcher relieves another, the pitcher may occupy one 
minute in delivering not to exceed five balls to the catcher or an infielder, 
during which time play shall be suspended. 

Sec. 3. — In event of the pitcher being taken from his position by 
either manager or captain, the player substituted for him shall continue 
to pitch until the batsman then at bat has either been put out or has 
reached first base. 

Rule 34. — Balking. — A balk shall be : 

Sec. 1. — Any motion made by the pitcher while in position to deliver 
the ball to the bat without delivering it, or to throw to first base when 
occupied by a base runner without completing the throw. 

Sec. 2. — Throwing the ball by the pitcher to any base to catch the 



264 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

base runner without stepping directly toward such base, in the act of 
making such throw. 

Sec. 3. — Any delivery of the ball to the bat by the pitcher while 
either foot is back of the pitcher's plate. 

Sec. 4. — Any delivery of the ball to the bat by the pitcher while he is 
not facing the batsman. 

Sec. 5. — Any motion in delivering the ball to the bat by the pitcher 
while not in the position defined by Rule 30. 

Sec. 6. — Holding of the ball by the pitcher so long as, in the opinion 
of the umpire, to unnecessarily delay the game. 

Sec. 7. — Making any motion to pitch while standing in his position 
without having the ball in his possession. 

Sec. 8. — Making any motion of the arm, shoulder, hip or body the 
pitcher habitually makes in his method of delivery, without immediately 
delivering the ball to the bat. 

Sec. 9. — Delivery of the ball to the bat when the catcher is standing 
outside the lines of the catcher's position as defined in Rule 3. 

If the pitcher shall fail to comply with the requirements of any section 
of this rule the umpire shall call a "balk." 

Rule 35. — Dead Ball. — A dead ball is a ball delivered to the bat 
by the pitcher, not struck at by the batsman, that touches any part of the 
batsman's person or clothing while he is standing in his position. 

Rule 36. — Ball Not in Play. — In case of an illegally batted ball, a 
balk, foul hit ball not legally caught, dead ball, interference with the fielder 
or batsman, or a fair hit ball striking a base runner or umpire before 
touching a fielder, the ball shall not be considered in play until it be held 
by the pitcher standing in his position, and the umpire shall have called 
"Play." 

Rule 37. Sec. 1. — Block Balls. — A block is a batted or thrown ball 
that is touched, stopped or handled by a person not engaged in the game. 

Sec. 2. — Whenever a block occurs the umpire shall declare it, and 
base-runners may run the bases without liability to be put out until the 
ball has been returned to and held by the pitcher in his position. 

Sec. 3. — If the person not engaged in the game should retain posses- 
sion of a blocked ball, or throw or kick it beyond the reach of the fielders, 
the umpire shall call "Time" and require each base runner to stop 
at the base last touched by him until the ball be returned to the pitcher 
in his position and the umpire shall have called "Play." 

THE BATTING RULES. 

Rule 38. — The Batsman's Position. — Each player of the side at bat 
shall become the batsman and must take his position within the batsman's 
lines (as defined in Rule 8), in the order that his name appears in his 
team's batting list. 

Rule 39. Sec. 1. — The Order of Batting. — The batting order of each 
team must be on the score card smd must be delivered before the game 
by its captain to the umpire at the home plate, who shall submit it to 
the inspection of the captain of the other side. The batting order delivered 
to the umpire must be followed throughout the game, unless a player be 
substituted for another, in which case the substitute must take the place 
in the batting order of the retired player. 

Sec. 2. — When the umpire announces the pitcher prior to commence- 
ment of game, the player announced must pitch until the first batsman 
has either been put out or has reached first base. 

Rule 40. — The First Batsman in an Inning. — After the first inning 
the first striker in each inning shall be the batsman whose name follows 
that of the last man who completed his "time at bat" in the preceding 
inning. 

Rule 41. — Players Belong on Bench. — When a side goes to the bat 
its players must immediately seat themselves on the bench assigned to 
them as defined in Rule 21, and remain there until their side is put out, 
except when called to the bat or to act as coachers or substitute base 
runners. 

Rule 42. — Reserved for Umpire, Catcher and Batsman. — No player of 
the side "at bat," except the batsman, shall occupy any portion of the 
space within the catcher's lines as defined in Rule 3. The triangular 




Benjamin F. Shibe 

The master mind in invention and perfection of 
Base Ball paraphernalia. 



The Playing Rules 265 

space back of the home base is reserved for the exclusive use of the um- 
pire, catcher and batsman, and the umpire must prohibit any player of^ 
the side "at bat" from crossing the same at any time while the ball is in 
the hands of the pitcher or catcher, or passing between them while 
standing in their positions. 

Rule 43. — Fielder Has Right of Way. — The players of the side "at 
bat" must speedily abandon their bench and hasten to another part of 
the field when by remaining upon or near it they or any of them would 
interfere with a fielder in an attempt to catch or handle a thrown or 
batted ball. 

Rule 44. — A Fair Hit. — ^A fair hit is a legally batted ball that settles 
on fair ground between home and first base or between home and third 
base, or that is on fair ground when bounding to the outfield past first 
or third base, or that first falls on fair territory beyond first or third 
base, or that, while on or over fair ground, touches the person of the 
umpire or a player. 

Rule 45. — A Foul Hit. — A foul hit is a legally batted ball that settles 
on foul territory between home and first base or home and third base, or 
that bounds past first or third base on foul territory, or that falls on 
foul territory beyond first or third base, or, while on or over foul ground, 
touches the person of the umpire or a player. 

Rule 46. — A Foul Tip. — A foul tip is a ball batted by the batsman 
while standing within the lines of his position, that goes sharp and direct 
from the bat to the catcher's hands and is legally caught. 

Rule 47. — A Bunt Hit. — A bunt hit is a legally batted ball, not swung 
at, but met with the bat and tapped slowly within the infield by the 
batsman. If the attempt to bunt result in a foul not legally caught, a 
strike shall be called by the umpire. 

Rule 48. Sec. 1. — Balls Batted Outside the Ground. — When a batted 
ball passes outside the ground or into a stand the umpire shall decide it 
fair or foul, according to where it disappears from the umpire's view. 

Sec. 2. — ^A fair batted ball that goes over the fence or into a stand 
shall entitle the batsman to a home run, unless it should pass out of the 
ground or into a stand at a less distance than two hundred and thirty- 
five (235) feet from the home base, in which case the batsman shall be 
entitled to two bases only. The point at which a fence or stand is less 
than 235 feet from the home base shall be plainly indicated by a white 
or black sign or mark for the umpire's guidance. 

Rule 49. — Strikes. — A strike is : 

Sec. 1. — A pitched ball struck at by the batsman without its touching 
his bat. 

Sec 2. — A fair ball legally delivered by the pitcher at which the 
batsman does not strike. 

Sec. 3. — A foul hit ball not caught on the fly, unless the batsman 
has two strikes. 

Sec. 4. — An attempt to bunt which results in a foul not legally 
caught. 

Sec. 5. — A pitched ball, at which the batsman strikes but misses and 
which touches any part of his person. 

Sec. 6. — A foul tip, held by the catcher while standing within the 
lines of his position. 

Rule 50. — An Illegally Batted Ball. — An illegally batted ball is a ball 
batted by the batsman when either or both of his feet are upon the ground 
outside the lines of the batsman's position. 

Rule 51. — When Batsman is Out. — The batsman is out : 

Sec. 1. — If he fail to take his position at the bat in the order in 
which his name appears on the batting list, unless the error be discovered 
and the proper batsman replace him before he becomes a base-runner, in 
which case the balls and strikes called must he counted in the time "at 
bat" of the proper batsman. But only the proper batsman shall be de- 
clared out and no runs shall be scored or bases run because of any act 
of the improper batsman. Provided, this rule shall not be enforced unless 
the out be declared before the ball be delivered to the succeeding bats- 
man. Should the batsman declared out under this section be the third 
hand out and his side be thereby put out, the proper batsman in the 



266 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

next inning shall be the player who would have come to bat had the 
players been put out by ordinary play in the preceding inning. 

Sec. 2. — If he fail to take his position within one minute after the 
umpire has called for the batsman. 

Sec. 3. — If he make a foul hit other than a foul tip, as defined in 
Rule 46, and the ball be momentarily held by a fielder before touching 
the ground ; provided, it be not caught in a fielder's cap, protector, pocket 
or other part of his uniform, or strike some object other than a fielder 
before being caught. 

Sec. 4. — If he bat the ball illegally, as defined in Rule 50. 

Sec. 5. — If he attempt to hinder the catcher from fielding or throw- 
ing the ball by stepping outside the lines of the batsman's position, or 
in any way obstructing or interfering with that player. 

Sec. 6. — If, while first base be occupied by a base runner, the third 
strike be called on him by the umpire, unless two men are already out. 

Sec. 7. — I'f, while attempting a third strike, the ball touch any part 
of the batsman's person, in which case base runners occupying bases shall 
not advance as prescribed in Rule 55, Section 5. 

Sec. 8. — If, before two hands are out, while first and second, or 
first, second and third bases are occupied, he hit a fly ball, other than a 
line drive, that can be handled by an infielder. In such case the umpire 
shall, as soon as the ball be hit, declare it an infield or outfield hit. 

Sec. 9. — If the third strike be called in accordance with Rule 49, 
Section 4 or 5. 

Sec. 10. — If he steps from one batsman's box to the other while the 
pitcher is in his position ready to pitch. 

BASE RUNNING RULES. 

Rule 52. — Legal Order of Bases. — The base runner must touch each 
base in legal order, viz : First, second, third and home bases ; and when 
obliged to return while the ball is in play, m,ust retouch the base or bases 
in reverse order. He can only acquire the right to a base by touching 
it before having been put out, and shall then be entitled to hold such 
base until he has legally touched the next base in order, or has been 
legally forced to vacate it for a succeeding base runner. However, no base 
runner shall score a run to count in the game ahead of the base runner 
preceding him in the batting order, if there be such preceding base runner 
who has not been put out in that inning. 

Rule 53. — When the Batsman Becomes a Base Runner. — The bats- 
man becomes a base runner : 

Sec. 1. — Instantly after he makes a fair hit. 

Sec. 2. — Instantly after "Four Balls" have been called by the umpire. 

Sec. 3. — Instantly after "Three Strikes" have been declared by the 
umpire. 

Sec. 4. — If, without making any attempt to strike at the ball, his 
person or clothing be hit by a pitched ball unless, in the opinion of the 
umpire, he plainly makes no effort to get out of the way of the pitched 
ball. 

Sec. 5. — If the catcher interfere with him in or prevent him from 
striking at a pitched ball. 

Sec. 6. — If a fair hit ball strike the person or clothing of the umpire 
or a base runner on fair ground. 

Rule 54. — Entitled to Bases. — The base runner shall be entitled without 
liability to be put out, to advance a base in the following cases : 

Sec. 1. — If, while the batsman, he becomes a base runner by reason 
of "Four Balls" or for being hit by a pitched ball ; or for being interfered 
with by the catcher in striking at a pitched ball ; or if a fair hit ball 
strike the person or clothing of the umpire or a base runner on fair 
ground. 

Sec. 2. — If the umpire awards to a succeeding batsman a base on 
four balls, or for being hit by a pitched ball, or being interfered with by 
the catcher in striking at a pitched ball and the base runner be thereby 
forced to vacate the base held by him. 

Sec. 3. — If the umpire call a "Balk." 

Sec. 4. — If a ball delivered by the pitcher pass the catcher and touch 
any fence or building within ninety (90) feet of the home base. 



The Playing Rules 26J 

Sec. 5. — If he be prevented from making a base by the obstruction of 
a fielder, unless the latter have the ball in his hand ready to touch the 
base runner. 

Sec. 6. — If the fielder stop or catch a batted ball with his cap, glove 
or any part of his uniform, while detached from its proper place on his 
person, the runner or runners shall be entitled to three bases. 

Sec. 7. — If a thrown or pitched ball strike the person or clothing of 
an umpire on foul ground the ball shall be considered in play and the 
base runner or runners shall be entitled to all the bases they can make. 

Rule 55. — Returning to Bases. — The base runner shall return to his 
base without liability to be put out: 

Sec. 1. — If the umpire declares any foul not legally caught. 

Sec. 2. — If the umpire declares an illegally batted ball. 

Sec. 3. — If the umpire declares a dead ball, unless it be also the 
fourth unfair ball, and he be thereby forced to take the next base, as 
provided in Rule 54, Section 2. 

Sec. 4. — If the person or clothing of the umpire interfere with the 
catcher in an attempt to throw, or the umpire be struck by a ball thrown 
by the catcher or other fielder to intercept a base runner. 

Sec. 5. — If a pitched ball at which the batsman strikes, but misses, 
touch any part of the batsman's person. 

Sec. 6. — If the umpire be struck by a fair hit ball before touching 
a fielder ; in which case no base shall be run unless necessitated by the 
batsman becoming a base runner, and no run shall be scored unless all 
the bases are occupied. 

Sec. 7. — If the umpire declares the batsman or another base runner 
out for interference. 

Sec. 8. — In any and all of these cases the base runner is not required to 
touch the intervening bases in returning to the base he is legally en- 
titled to. 

Rule 56. — When Base Runners Are Out. — The base runner is out : 

Sec. 1. — If, after three strikes have been declared against him while 
the batsman, the third strike ball be not legally caught and he plainly 
attempts to hinder the catcher from fielding the ball. 

Sec. 2. — If, having made a fair hit while batsman, such fair hit ball 
be momentarily held by a fielder before touching the ground or any 
object other than a fielder. Provided, it be not caught in a fielder's hat, 
cap, protector, pocket or other part of his uniform. 

Sec. 3. — If, when the umpire has declared "Three Strikes" on him 
while the batsman, the third strike ball be momentarily held by a 
fielder before touching the ground. Provided, it be not caught in a 
fielder's cap, protector, pocket or other part of his uniform, or touch some 
object other than a fielder before being caught. 

Sec. 4. — If after three strikes or a fair hit, he be touched with the 
ball in the hand of a fielder before he shall have touched first base. 

Sec. 5. — If, after three strikes or a fair hit, the ball be securely held 
by a fielder while touching first base with any part of his person before 
such base runner touch first base. 

Sec. 6. — If, in running the last half of the distance from home base 
to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, he run outside 
the three feet lines, as defined in Rule 7, unless he do so to avoid a 
fielder attempting to field a batted ball. 

Sec. 7. — If, in running from first to second base, from second to third 
base, or from third to home base, he run more than three feet from a 
direct line between a base and the next one in regular or reverse order 
to avoid being touched by a ball in the hands of a fielder. But in case a 
fielder be occupying a base runner's proper path in attempting to field a 
batted ball, then the base runner shall run out of direct line to the next 
base and behind said fielder and shall not be declared out for so doing. 

Sec. 8. — If he fail to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, 
in the manner described in Sections 6 and 7 of this rule, or in any way 
obstruct a fielder in attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally in- 
terfere with a thrown ball. Provided, that if two or more fielders 
attempt to field a batted ball, and the base runner come in contact with 
one or more of them, the umpire shall determine which fielder is entitled 
to the benefit of this rule, and shall not decide the base runner out for 



268 RicHTER^s History and Records of Base Ball 

coming in contact with the fielder other than the one the umpire de- 
termines to be entitled to field such batted ball. 

Sec. 9. — If, at any time while the ball is in play, he be touched by 
the ball in the hands of a fielder, unless some part of his person be 
touching the base he is entitled to occupy. Provided, however, that the ball 
be held by the fielder after touching him, unless the base runner deliberately 
knock it out of his hand. 

Sec. 10. — If, when a fair or foul hit ball (other than a foul tip as 
defined in Rule 46) be legally caught by a fielder such ball be legally held 
by a fielder on the base occupied by the base runner when such ball was 
batted, or the base runner be touched with the ball in the hands of a 
fielder, before he retouch such base after such fair or foul hit ball was 
so caught. Provided, that the base runner shall not be out in such case, 
if, after the ball was legally caught as above, it be delivered to the 
bat by the pitcher before the fielder hold it on said base, or touch the 
base runner out with it; but if the base runner, in attempting to reach 
a base, detach it from its fastening before being touched or forced out, 
he shall be declared safe. 

Sec. 11. — If, when the batsman becomes a base runner, the first base, 
or the first and second bases, or the first, second and third bases be 
occupied, any base runner so occupying a base shall cease to be entitled 
to hold it, and may be put out at the next base in the same manner as 
in running to first base, or by being touched with the ball in the hands 
of a fielder at any time before any base runner following him in the 
batting order be put out, unless the umpire should decide the hit of the 
batsman to be an infield fly. 

Sec. 12. — If a fair hit ball strike him before touching a fielder, and 
in such case no base shall be run unless necessitated by the batsman be- 
coming a base runner, but no run shall be scored or any other base 
runner put out until the umpire puts the ball back into play. 

Sec. 13. — If, when advancing bases, or forced to return to a base, 
while the ball is in play, he fail to touch the intervening base, or bases, 
if any, in the regular or reverse order, as the case may be, he may be 
put out by the ball being held by a fielder on any base he failed to 
touch, or by being touched by the ball in the hands of a fielder in the 
same manner as in running to first base. Provided, that the base runner 
shall not be out in such case if the ball be delivered to the bat by the 
pitcher before the fielder hold it on said base or touch the base runner 
with it. 

Sec. 14. — If, when the umpire call "Play" after the suspension of 
a game, he fail to return to and touch the base he occupied when "Time" 
was called before touching the next base. Provided, the base runner 
shall not be out, in such case, if the ball be delivered to the bat by the 
pitcher, before the fielder hold it on said base or touch the base runner 
with it. 

Sec. 15. — If, with one or no one out and a base runner on third 
base, the batsman interferes with a play being made at the home plate. 

Sec. 16. — If he pass a preceding base runner before such runner has 
been legally put out he shall be declared out immediately. 

Sec. 17. — Overrunning First Base. — The base runner in running to 
first base may overrun said base after touching it in passing without 
incurring liability to be out for being off said base, provided he 
return at once and retouch the base, after which he may be put out as at 
any other base. If, after overrunning first base, he attempts to run to 
second base, before returning to first base, he shall forfeit such exemption 
from liability to be put out. 

Sec. 18. — If, while third base is occupied, the coacher stationed near 
that base shall run in the direction of home base on or near the base 
line while a fielder is making or trying to make a play on a batted ball 
not caught on the fly, or on a thrown ball, and thereby draws a throw 
to home base, the base runner entitled to third base shall be declared 
out by the umpire for the coacher's interference with and prevention of 
the legitimate play. 

Sec. 19. — If one or more members of the team at bat stand or collect 
at or around a base 'for which a base runner is trying, thereby con- 
fusing the fielding side and adding to the difficulty of making such play, 



The Playing Rules 269 

the base runner shall be declared out for the interference of his team- 
mate or team-mates. 

Rule 57. — When Umpire Shall Declare an Out. — The umpire shall 
declare the batsman or base runner out, without waiting for an appeal 
for such decision, in all cases where such player be put out in accordance 
with any of these rules, except Sections 13 and 17 of Rule 56. 

Rule 58. — Coaching Rules. — The coacher shall be restricted to coach- 
ing the base runner only, and shall not address remarks except to the 
base runner and then <5nly in words of assistance and direction in running 
bases. He shall not, by words or signs, incite or try to incite the specta- 
tors to demonstrations ; and shall not use language which will in any 
manner refer to or reflect upon a player of the opposite club, the umpire 
or the spectators. Not more than two coachers, who must be players in 
the uniform of the team at bat, shall be allowed to occupy the space 
between the players' and the coachers' lines, one near first and the 
other near third base, to coach base runners. If there be more than 
the legal number of coachers or this rule be violated in any respect the 
umpire must order the illegal coacher or coachers to the bench, and if 
his order be not obeyed within one minute, the umpire shall assess a 
fine of $5.00 against each offending player, and upon a repetition o'f the 
offense the offending player or players shall be debarred from further 
participation in the game, and shall leave the playing field forthwith. 

Rule 59. — The Scoring of Runs. — One run shall be scored every time 
a base runner, after having legally touched the first three bases, shall 
legally touch the home base before three men are put out. Provided, 
however, that if he reach home on or during a play in which the third 
man be forced out or be put out before reaching first base, a run shall 
not count. A force out can be made only when a base runner legally 
loses the right to the base he occupies by reason of the batsman becoming 
a base runner, and he is thereby obliged to advance. 

UMPIRES AND THEIR DUTIES. 

Rule 60. — Poiuer to Enforce Decisions. — The umpires are the repre- 
sentatives of the League and as such are authorized and required to en- 
force each section of this code. They shall have the power to order a 
player, captain or manager to do or omit to do any act which in their 
judgment is necessary to give force and effect to one or all o'f these 
rules, and to inflict penalties for violations of the rules as hereinafter pre- 
scribed. In order to define their respective duties the umpire judging 
balls and strikes shall be designated as the "Umpire-in-Chief ;" the um- 
pire judging base decisions as the "Field Umpire." 

Rule 61. Sec. 1. — The Umpire-in-Chief. — The Umpire-in-Chief shall 
take position back of the catcher ; he shall have full charge of and be 
responsible for the proper conduct of the game. With exception of the 
base decisions to be made by the Field Umpire, the Umpire-in-Chief shall 
render all the decisions that ordinarily would devolve upon a single um- 
pire, and which are prescribed for "the umpire" in these Playing Rules. 

Sec. 2. — He shall call and count as a "ball" any unfair ball delivered 
by the pitcher to the batsman. He shall also call and count as a 
"strike" any fairly delivered ball which passes over any portion of the 
home base, and within the batsman's legal range as defined in Rule 31, 
whether struck at or not by the batsman ; or a foul tip which is caught 
by the catcher standing within the lines of his position, within 10 feet 
of the home base ; or which, after being struck at and not hit, strike 
the person of the batsman; or when the ball be bunted foul by the bats- 
man ; or any foul hit ball not caught on the fly unless the batsman has 
two strikes, provided, however, that a pitched ball shall not be called or 
counted a "ball" or "strike" by the umpire until it has passed the home 
plate. 

Sec. 3. — He shall render base decisions in the following instances : 
(1) If the ball is hit fair, with a runner on first, he must go to third 
base to take a possible decision; (2) with more than one base occupied, he 
shall decide whether or not a runner on third leaves that base before a fly 
ball is caught; (3) in case of a runner being caught between third and 
home, when more than one base is occupied, he shall make the decision on 
the runner nearest the home plate. 



270 RiCHTER^s History and .Records of Base Ball 

Sec. 4. — The Umpire-in-Chief alone shall have authority to declare a 
game forfeited. 

Rule 62. Sec. l.~The Field Umpire.— The Field Umpire shall take 
such positions on the playing field as in his judgment are best suited for 
the rendering of base decisions. He shall render all decisions at first 
base and second base, and aU decisions at third base except those to be 
made by the Umpire-in-Chief in accordance with Sec. 3, Rule 61. 

Sec. 2. — He shall aid the Umpire-in-Chief in every manner in en- 
forcing the rules of the game and, with the exception of declaring a for- 
feiture, shall have equal authority with the Umpire-in-Chief in fining or 
removing from the game players who violate these rules. 

Rule 63. — No Appeal From Decisions Based on Umpire's Judgment. — 
There shall be no appeal from any decision of either umpire on the ground 
that he was not correct in his conclusions as to whether a batted ball was 
fair or foul, a base runner safe or out, a pitched ball, a strike or a ball, 
or any other play involving accuracy of judgment, and no decision 
rendered by him shall be reversed, except that he be convinced that it is 
in violation of one of these rules. The captain shall alone have the right 
to protest against a decision and seek its reversal on a claim that it 
is in conflict with a section of these rules. In case the captain does 
seek a reversal of a decision based solely on a point of rules, the umpire 
making the decision shall, i'f he is in doubt, ask his associate for informa- 
tion before acting on the captain's appeal. Under no circumstances shall 
either umpire criticise or interfere with a decision unless asked to do so 
by his associate. 

Rule 64. — Duties of Single Umpire. — If but one umpire be assigned, 
his duties and jurisdiction shall extend to all points, and he shall be per- 
mitted to take his stand in any part of the field that in his opinion will 
best enable him to discharge his duties. 

Rule 65. — Must Not Question Decisions. — Under no circumstances 
shall a captain or player dispute the accuracy of the umpire's judgment 
and decision on a play. 

Rule 66. — Cluis Cannot Change Umpire. — The umpire cannot be 
changed during a championship game by the consent of the contesting 
clubs unless the official in charge of the field be incapacitated from service 
by injury or illness. 

Rule 67. Sec. 1. — Penalties for Violations of the Rules. — In all cases 
of violation of these rules, by either player or manager, the penalty shall 
be prompt removal of the offender from the game and grounds, followed 
by a period of such suspension from actual service in the club as the 
President of the League may fix. In the event of removal of player or 
manager by either umpire, he shall go direct to the club house and 
remain there during progress of the game, or leave the grounds; and 
a failure to do so will warrant a forfeiture of the game by the Umpire- 
in-Chief. 

Sec. 2. — The umpire shall assess a fine of $5.00 against each offending 
player in the following cases: (1) If the player intentionally discolor 
or damage the ball; (2) if the player fail to be seated on his bench within 
one minute after ordered to do so by the umpire; (3) if the player violate 
the coaching rules and refuse to be seated on his bench within one minute 
after ordered to do so by the. umpire; (4) if the captain fail to notify 
him when one player is substituted for another. 

Sec. 3. — In cases where substitute players show their disapproval of 
decisions by yelling from the bench, the umpire shall first give warning. 
If the yelling continues he shall fine each offender $10, and if the dis- 
turbance is still persisted in he shall clear the bench of all substitute 
players; the captain of the team, however, to have the privilege of sending 
to the club house for such substitutes as are actually needed to replace 
players in the game. 

Rule 68. — Umpire to Report Violations of the Rules. — The umpire 
shall within twelve hours after fining or removing a player from the 
game forward to the President a report of the penalty inflicted and the 
cause therefor. 

Rule 69. — Immediately upon being informed by the umpire that a 
fine has been imposed upon any manager, captain or player, the president 
shall notify the person so fined and also the club of which he is a member; 
and, in the event of the failure of the person so fined to pay to the 



The Playing Rules 271 

secretary of tlie League the amount of said fine within five days after 
notice, he shall be debarred from participating in any championship game 
or from sitting on a players' bench during the progress of a championship 
game until such fine be paid. 

Rule 70. — When the offense of the player debarred from the game 
be of a flagrant nature, such as the use of obscene language or an assault 
upon a player or umpire, the umpire shall within four hours thereafter 
forward to the president of the League full particulars. 

Rule 71. — Warning to Captains. — The umpire shall notify both cap- 
tains before the game, and in the presence of each other, that all the 
'playing rules will be strictly and impartially enforced, and warn them 
that failure on their part to co-operate in such enforcement will result 
in offenders being fined, and, if necessary to preserve discipline, debarred 
from the game. 

Rule 72. Sec. 1. — On Ground Rules. — Before the commencement of 
a game the umpire shall see that the rules governing all the materials of 
the game are strictly observed. 

Sec. 2. — In case of spectators overflowing on the playing field, the 
home captain shall make special ground rules to cover balls batted or 
thrown into the crowd, provided such rules be acceptable to the captain 
of the visiting club. If the latter object, then the umpire shall have full 
authority to make and enforce such special rules, and he shall announce the 
scope of same to the spectators. 

Sec. 3. — In all cases where there are no spectators on the playing 
field, and where a thrown ball goes into a stand for spectators, or over 
or through any fence surrounding the playing field, or into the players' 
bench (whether the ball rebounds into the field or not), the runner or 
runners shall be entitled to two bases. The umpire in awarding such 
bases shall be governed by the position of the runner or runners at the 
time the throw is made. 

Sec. 4. — The umpire shall also ascertain from the home captain 
whether any other special ground rules are necessary, and if there be 
he shall advise the opposing captain o'f their scope and see that each is 
duly enforced, provided they do not conflict with any of these rules and 
are acceptable to the captain of the visiting team. 

Rule 73. — Official Announcements. — The umpire sTiall call "Play" at 
the hour appointed for the beginning of a game, announce "Time" at its 
legal interruption and declare "Game" at its legal termination. Prior to 
the commencement of the game he shall announce the batteries, and during 
the progress of the game shall announce each change of players. In 
case of an overflow crowd, he shall announce the special ground rules 
agreed upon, and he shall also make announcement of any agreement 
entered into by the two captains to stop play at a specified hour. 

Rule 74. — Suspension of play. — The umpire shall suspend play for the 
following causes : 

1. — If rain fall so heavily as in the judgment of the umpire to pre- 
vent continuing the game, in which case he shall note the time of sus- 
pension, and should rain 'fall continuously for thirty minutes thereafter 
he shall terminate the game. 

2. — In case of an accident which incapacitates him or a player from 
service in the field, or in order to remove from the grounds any player or 
spectator who has violated the rules, or in case of fire, panic or other 
extraordinary circumstances. 

3. — In suspending play from any legal cause the umpire shall call 
"Time ;" when he calls "Time," play shall be suspended until he calls 
"Play" again, and during the interim no player shall be put out base be 
run or run be scored. "Time" shall not be called by the umpire until 
the ball be held by the pitcher while standing in his position. 

Rule 75. — Field Rules. — No person shall be allowed upon any part of 
the field during the progress of a game except the players in uniform, 
the manager of each side, the umpire, such officers of the law as may be 
present in uniform, and such watchmen of the home club as may be 
necessary to preserve the peace. 

Rule 76. — No manager, captain or player shall address the spectators 
during a game except in reply to a request for information about the 
progress or state of the game or to give the name of a player. 

Rule 77. — Every club shall furnish sufficient police force to preserve 



2/2 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

order upon its own grounds, and in the event of a crowd entering the 
field during the progress of a game, and interfering with the play in any 
manner, the visiting club may refuse to play until the field be cleared. 
If the field be not cleared within 15 minutes thereafter, the visiting club 
may claim and shall be entitled to the game by a score of nine runs to 
none (no matter what number of innings has been played). 

Rule 78. — General Definitions. — "Play" is the order of the umpire 
to begin the game or to resume it after suspension. 

Rule 79. — ^"Time" is the order of the umpire to suspend play. Such 
suspension must not extend beyond the day. 

Rule. 80. — "Game" is the announcement of the umpire that the game 
is terminated. 

Rule 81. — "An inning" is the term at bat of the nine players repre- 
senting a club in a game and is completed when three of such players 
have been legally put out. 

Rule 82. — "A Time at Bat" is the term at bat of a batsman. It 
begins when he takes his position, and continues until he is put out or 
becomes a base runner. But a time at bat shall not be charged against 
a batsman who is awarded first base by the umpire for being hit by a 
pitched ball, or on called balls, or when he makes a sacrifice hit, or for 
interference by the catcher. 

Rule 83. — "Legal" or "Legally" signifies as required by these rules. 

THE SCORING RULES. 

Rule 84. — To promote uniformity in scoring championship games the 
following instructions are given and suggestions and definitions made for 
the guidance of scorers, and they are required to make all scores in ac- 
cordance therewith : 

Rule 85. Sec. 1. — I'he Batsman's Record. — The first item in the 
tabulated score, after the player's name and position, shall be the 
number of times he has been at bat during the game, but the exceptions 
made in Rule 82 must not be included. 

Sec, 2. — In the second column shall be set down the runs, if any, 
made by each player. 

Sec. 3. — In the third column shall be placed the first base hits, if 
any, made by each player. 

Sec. 4. — The Scoring of Base Hits. — A base hit shall be scored in 
the following cases : 

When the ball from the bat strikes the ground on or within the 
foul lines and out of reach of the fielders. 

When a fair hit ball is partially or wholly stopped by a fielder in 
motion, but such player cannot recover himself in time to field the ball 
to first before the striker reaches that base or to force out another base 
runner. 

When the ball be hit with such force to an infielder or pitcher that 
he cannot handle it in time to put out the batsman or force out a base 
runner. In a case of doubt over this class of hits, a base hit should be 
scored and the fielder exempted from the charge of an error. 

When the ball is hit so slowly toward a fielder that he cannot handle 
it in time to put out the batsman or force out a base runner. 

In all cases where a base runner is retired by being hit by a batted 
ball, unless batted by himself, the batsman should be credited with a base 
hit. 

When a batted ball hits the person or clothing of the umpire, as de- 
fined in Rule 53, Section 6. 

In no case shall a base hit be scored when a base runner is forced 
out by the play. 

Sec. 5. — Sacrifice Hits. — Sacrifice hits shaU be placed in the sum- 
mary. 

A sacrifice hit shall be credited to the batsman who, when no one is 
out, or when but one man is out, advances a runner a base by a bunt hit, 
which results in the batsman being put out before reaching first, or would so 
result if it were handled without error. 

A sacrifice hit shall also be credited to a batsman who, when no 
one is out, or when but one man is out, hits a fly ball that is caught but 



The Playing Rules 273 

results in a run being scored, or would in the judgment of the scorer 
so result if caught. 

Sec. 6. — Fielding Records. — The number of opponents, if any, put 
out by each player shall be set down in the fourth column. Where the 
batsman is given out by the umpire for an illegally batted ball, or fails 
to bat in proper order, or is declared out on third bunt strike, the put- 
out shall be scored to the catcher. In cases of the base runner being 
declared "out" for interference, running out of line, or on an infield fly, 
the "out" should be credited to the player who would have made the play 
but for the action of the base runner or the announcement of the umpire. 

Sec. 7. — The number of times, if any, each player assists in putting 
out an opponent shall be set down in the fifth column. An assist should 
be given to each player who handles the ball in aiding in a run-out or 
any other play of the kind, even though he complete the play , by making 
the put-out. 

An assist should be given to a player who makes a play in time to 
put a runner out, even if the player who could complete the play fails, 
through no fault of the assisting player. 

And generally an assist should be given to each player who handles 
or assists in any manner in handling the ball from the time it leaves the 
bat until it reaches the player who makes the put-out, or in case of a 
thrown ball, to each player who throws or handles it cleanly, and in such 
a way that a put-out results, or would result if no error were made by a 
team-mate. 

Assists should be credited to every player who handles the ball in 
the play which results in a base runner being called "out" for inter- 
ference or for running out of line. 

A double play shall mean any two continuous put-outs that take 
place between the time the ball leaves the pitcher's hands until it is 
returned to him again standing in the pitcher's box. 

Sec. 8. — Errors. — An error shall be given in the sixth column for 
each misplay which prolongs the time at bat of the batsman or allows a 
base runner to make one or more bases when perfect play would have 
insured his being put out. But a base on balls, a base awarded to a 
batsman by being struck by a pitched ball, a balk, a passed ball or a 
wild pitch, shall not be included in the sixth column. 

An error shall not be charged against a catcher for a wild throw in 
an attempt to prevent a stolen base, unless the base runner advance an 
extra base because of the error. 

An error shall not be scored against the catcher or an infielder who 
attempts to complete a double play, unless the throw be so wild that an 
additional base be gained. 

In case a base runner advance a base through the failure of a base- 
man to stop or try to stop a ball accurately thrown to his base, the latter 
shall be charged with an error and not the player who made such throw, 
provided there was occasion for it. If such throw be made to second 
base the scorer shall determine whether the second baseman or shortstop 
shall be charged with an error. 

In event of a fielder dropping a fly but recovering the ball in time 
to force a runner at another base, he shall be exempted from an error, 
the play being scored as a "force-out." 

Sec. 9. — Stolen Bases. — A stolen base shall be credited to the base 
runner whenever he advances a base unaided by a base hit, a put-out, a 
fielding or a battery error, subject to the following exceptions : 

In event of a double or triple steal being attempted, where either 
runner is thrown out, the other or others shall not be credited with a 
stolen base. 

In event of a base runner being touched out after sliding over a base, 
he shall not be regarded as having stolen the base in question. 

In event of a base runner making his start to steal a base prior to 
a battery error, he shall be credited with a stolen base. 

In event of a palpable muff of a thrown ball by the catcher, when 
the base runner is clearly blocked, the infielder making the muff shall be 
charged with an error and the base runner shall not be credited with a 
stolen base. 

Sec. 10. — Definition of Wild Pitch and Passed Ball. — A wild pitch is 
a legally delivered . ball, so high, low or wide of the plate that the catcher 
18 



274 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

cannot or does not stop and control it with ordinary effort, and as a result 
the batsman, who becomes a base runner on such pitched ball, reaches 
first base or a base runner advances. 

A passed ball is a legally delivered ball that the catcher should hold 
or control with ordinary effort, but his failure to do so enables the 
batsman, who becomes a base runner on such pitched ball, to reach first 
base or a base runner to advance. 

Rule 86. — The Summary. — The summary shall contain: 

Sec. 1. — The score made in each inning of the game and the total runs 
of each side in the game. 

Sec. 2. — The number of stolen bases, if any, made by each player. 

Sec. 3. — The number of sacrifice hits, if any, made by each player. 

Sec. 4. — The number of sacrifice flies, if any, made by each player. 

Sec. 5. — The number of two-base hits, if any, made by each player 

Sec. 6. — The number of three-base hits, if any, made by each player. 

Sec. 7. — ^The number of home runs, if any, made by each player. 

Sec. 8. — The number of double and triple plays, if any, made by each 
side, and the names of the players participating in the same. 

Sec. 9. — The number of innings each pitcher pitched in. 

Sec. 10. — The number of base hits, if any, made off each pitcher, and 
the number of legal "at bats" scored against each pitcher. 

Sec. 11. — ^The number of times, if any, the pitcher strikes out the op- 
posing batsmen. 

Sec. 12. — The number of times, if any, the pitcher gives bases on 
baUs. 

Sec. 13. — ^The number of wild pitches, if any, charged against the 
pitcher. 

Sec. 14. — The number of times, if any, the pitcher hits a batsman 
with a pitched ball, the name or names of the batsman or batsmen so hit 
to be given. 

Sec. 15. — The number of passed balls by each catcher. 

Sec. 16. — The time of the game. 

Sec. 17. — ^The name of the umpire or umpires. 

THE IMPLEMENTS OF THE GAME. 

In concluding this Review of the Development of the Play- 
ing Rules of Base Ball we desire to point out two remarkable 
facts. One, that there has been absolutely not the slightest 
change in the size of the diamond since its first formation, accord- 
ing to the mathematical calculations of General Doubleday, of 
Cooperstown, N. Y., in 1839; second, that there has been no 
radical change in the chief implements of the game, bat and ball, 
since the early '60s, except that the ball has been improved in its 
composition. In 1865 the bat was limited to 40 inches in length ; 
and in 1868 it was lengthened to 42 inches and 25^ inches in 
diameter at the thickest part. Since then there has been no 
change in the bat except that in 1895 the diameter at thickest 
part was made 2% inches ; and that from 1885 to 1893 the rules 
permitted a slight flattening of the bat on one side for the pur- 
pose of bunting — which privilege was rescinded when the bats- 
man was exempted from a time at bat on an infield sacrifice hit. 
In i860 the size and weight of the ball was fixed as it is today, 
and since then the only change has been in the improvement of 



The Playing Rules 275 

the constructiom of the ball, through machinery invented by Mr. 
Benjamin F. Shibe, of Philadelphia, in the '90s, and the substitu- 
tion in 1909 of a cork center — also invented by Mr. Shibe — for 
the rubber center heretofore in use. The 

ACCOUTREMENTS AND PROTECTIVE DEVICES 

of the game are comparatively modern. The knickerbocker style 
of uniform was introduced by Manager Harry Wright, of Cin- 
cinnati, in 1868. The fielders played with bare hands until about 
1883, when the use of gloves came into general use. Catchers 
had a hard time of it until the middle '70s, as they caught bare- 
handed, with only a piece of rubber between the teeth to protect 
the face. In 1875 catcher McGunnigle, of Fall River, introduced 
the catcher's mitt. In 1876 catcher Thayer, of Harvard College, 
invented the catcher's mask, copying the idea from a fencer's 
mask. Chest protectors did not come into use until about ten 
years later. First basemen began to use catcher's mitts in the 
early '80s, and soon other infielders began to use small fielding 
gloves, which in turn became so large that it was necessary to 
limit their size by rule. With the fielders' gloves came padded 
trousers for the protection of base runners, so that today a ball 
player is trussed up to a degree which would have elicited the 
undisguised contempt of the hardy and courageous old-time 
player — all of which has served to produce somewhat improved 
fielding, but a corresponding decrease in batting and in the pro- 
duction of natural ball players. 

COLORS IN UNIFORMS. 

Under the National League regime, until 1882, the various 
teams were permitted to wear uniforms of any color. In 1882 
a rule was adopted to prevent any two teams from wearing the 
same color. The following is the report of the Committee on 
Uniforms to the National League meeting in Chicago, Fall of 
1 88 1, which was adopted for the season of 1882 : 

"When the meeting was opened, the Committee on Uniforms presented 
its report, in the form of a special agreement, for the signatures of the 
clubs, and it was adopted. It binds the members, in all championship 
games during the season of 1882, to present their nines in the uniforms 
prescribed. All the catchers in the League will be dressed precisely alike, 
with the exception of their hose, which will be of their club color ; and 
so on, of all the pitchers, first basemen, and so on through the list. The 
report fixes the color of each article of dress for each player. The shirts, 



276 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

belts and caps for various positions are to be as follows : Catcher, scarlet ; 
pitcher, light blue; first baseman, scarlet and white; second baseman, 
orange and black ; third baseman, blue and white ; shortstop, maroon ; right 
fielder, gray ; center fielder, red and black ; left fielder, white ; first substi- 
tute, green ; second substitute, brown. The trousers and neckties of all 
players are to be white, and the shoes, leather. The stockings to be worn 
by the members of the different nines are as follows : Boston, red ; Chicago, 
white ; Detroit, old gold ; Troy, green ; Buffalo, gray ; Cleveland, navy blue ; 
Providence, light blue ; Worcester, brown." 

This circus uniform proved so undignified and so unpopular 
that it was abandoned, and in the 1883 season, instead of apply- 
ing to the uniform proper, the color regulation had reference 
to the stockings only, as follows: Red for Boston, gray for 
Buffalo, white for Chicago, navy blue for Cleveland, light blue 
for Providence, brown for Detroit, blue and white check for 
Philadelphia, and crimson and black for New York. In that 
year (1883) New York and Philadelphia took the places, but 
not the colors, of Troy and Worcester. In that year, also, a rule 
was adopted compelling the home club to wear white uniforms 
and the visiting club any color — which rule is still in effect in all 
leagues. In 1877 the National League adopted a rule assessing 
each player $30 for his uniforms, which rule remained in effect 
up to the end of the 191 3 season, when it was repealed. 

development of umpiring. 

In conclusion a few words as to the umpire's place in the 
game are in order. The development of the umpire system was 
so well described by the veteran Pittsburgh writer, Mr. John H. 
Gruber, in a syndicate article published in 19 13, that we take the 
liberty of reproducing it entire. It is as follows : 

"There was no regular staff of umpires in any league up to 1879. 
A man was selected on the field and was remunerated with whatever sum 
the home club saw fit to give him. In the following season, however, 
the pay of an umpire was fixed at $5.00 a game. In 1879 a staff of 
umpires was introduced, consisting of 20 men, located in the different 
cities that were members of the League. The staff included men whose 
names later became familiar to followers of Base Ball everywhere. The 
complete list of umpires under the new staff arrangement was as follows: 
Charles Daniels, W. McLean, Mike Walsh, James Summer, W. E. Fur- 
long, C. E. Wilbur, A. D. Hodges, George Seward, J. A. Williams. W. 
H. Geer, J. Dunn, J. A. Cross, R. Wheeler, G. W. Bredburg, C. G. Stam- 
baugh, T. H. Brunton, T. Gilliam, F. W. Faber, J. Young and E. G. 
Fountain. But while the League now boasted a staff of umpires, it 
still lacked a system by which it could exercise control over the arbiters. 
The need of something of this sort evidently dawned upon the club 
owners later, however, for in 1881 it was ordained that umpires should 
be regarded as league officials, and as such should be amenable to punish- 
ment if not faithful in the discharge of their duties with regard to the 
strict enforcement of the playing rules. But in spite of this league 
supervision the umpires were paid by the clubs, and not by the league, as 
at present. Some of the conditions under which umpires worked then 



The Playing Rules 277 

must appear very amusing to the fan of today. Prior to 1882, for in- 
stance, an umpire was allowed, on a disputed play, to take testimony from 
a player or a bystander, this privilege holding good particularly in the 
case of a doubtful or questionable fly catch. Later the rule was changed 
so that the umpire was forced to depend solely upon his own judgment. 
During this year (1882) no player except the captain was permitted to 
address the umpire. The season of 1883 witnessed the introduction of 
the umpire system that is still in vogue. A regular staff of four umpires 
was appointed, independent of club influences, and drawing fixed salaries. 
The original staff consisted of S. M. Decker, of Bradford, Pa. ; Frank 
Law, of Norwalk, O. ; W. E. Furlong, of Kansas City, Mo., and A. F. 
Odlin, of Lancaster, N. H. It will be noted that not one of the men 
appointed hailed from any city that held membership in the League, 
the idea being to have umpires who would be as far removed as possible 
from the danger of club control. However, it was resolved that 'ai y um- 
pire shall be removed who shall be objected to, in writing, by four league 
clubs after the commencement of the championship season.' " 

In this connection it is fitting to state that in the history of 
the game only one umpire (Dick Higham, of the National League, 
in 1882) was convicted of, and expelled for, crookedness — a 
wonderful record considering the vast number of umpires 
employed from the beginning of Base Ball to the present time 
and the temptations and opportunities of the responsible position. 

THE DIVISION OF GATE RECEIPTS. 

In addition to the above, Mr. Gruber gives the following 
facts regarding gate receipts division: ''The first arrangement 
for the division of the gate receipts came when the organizers of 
the National League, in 1876, decided that the visiting club 
should receive 15 cents for each person attending the game, 
which sum could be collected after one full inning had been 
played. Once an agreement covering the division of the money 
had been reached, improvements were made gradually in the sys- 
tem of counting and other features in connection therewith, and 
in 1878 were introduced the first turnstiles — the silent sentinels 
or watchdogs that have become an indispensable part of Base Ball, 
not only in the major leagues, but in all the leading minor organi- 
zations. In passing it may not be out of place to state that under 
the present system in the National League, the American League, 
and most of the leading minor leagues, the visiting club receives 
half of the general admission money ; that is, it receives 25 cents 
for each 50-cent admission, and 12% cents for each 25-cent 
admission. The extra money taken in for grandstand and box 
seats goes to the home club." 



278 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

great factors in development. 

Before concluding this chapter on the Playing Rules we 
deem it proper to pay a deserved tribute to the two greatest indi- 
vidual factors in the development of the Playing Rules, from 
their crude beginning in the '40s, to gradual perfection in the 
late '90s. These two factors were Henry Chad wick, known in 
the later years of his life as the "Father of Base Ball ;" and Harry 
Wright, the "Father of Professional Base Ball." Mr. Chadwick 
was born in England October 25, 1824, and his family was noted 
in English literature and art. He came to Brooklyn at the age 
of 13, and after receiving an academic education, he began his 
journalistic career in 1844, o^ the "Long Island Star." In 1856 
he turned to sporting journalism, as cricket editor of the "New 
York Times." In 1857 he became connected with the New York 
"Clipper," with which he was associated for 31 years. That year 
he began to write Base Ball and from that time until 1886, he was 
the leading base ball writer of New York. He was also special 
contributor to Philadelphia Sporting Life from 1885 to the time 
of his death, April 20, 1908. He also contributed to the Brook- 
lyn "Eagle" for 40 years. From the day he began to write Base 
Ball he specialized on the Playing Rules, and from 1857 to 1881 
virtually every change, improvement or codification of the Playing 
Rules was due to his suggestion as a writer, or his work as chair- 
man or member of the Committee on Rules of the first National 
Association, and later as Editor of the Spalding Guide continu- 
ously from 1 88 1 to 1908. Mr. Chadwick lies in Greenwood 
Cemetery, Brooklyn, under a monument designed by Miss Flor- 
ence Richter, daughter of the author of this History and Rec- 
ords of Base Ball, and executed by order of the National 
League, which was to the deceased always under all conditions 
the model base ball organization. 

famous harry WRIGHT 

was second only to Henry Chadwick in the matter of effecting 
important Playing Rules improvements. Harry Wright was born 
in England in 1845, of ^ family of great cricket players. He, 
his father, and his brothers, George and Samuel, came to Amer- 
ica in the early '50s, to promote Cricket. He learned to play 
Base Bail in New York about 1857. Harry went to Cincinnati 



The Playing Rules 279 

in 1865, as coach for the Cincinnati Cricket Club, but in 1866 he 
abandoned Cricket for Base Ball, at which he became so proficient 
that he was one of the players of the semi-professional Cincin- 
nati team, which played the Nationals, of Washington, on their 
famous trans- Allegheny tour of 1867. He took an active part 
in organizing the famous Cincinnati Red Stocking Club in 1868, 
and was appointed manager, and the next year was the chief 
factor in professionalizing that club, and thus became the "Father 
of Professional Base Ball." Thereafter he gave all of his time and 
attention to Base Ball, and managed successively the Boston, 
Providence, Philadelphia and St. Louis teams from 1871 to 1894. 
In 1890 he was stricken with blindness from which he never en- 
tirely recovered. He died of pneumonia at Atlantic City, October 
3, 1895. From his entrance to the base ball field until his death, 
Harry Wright was a student of the game, and many of the 
important playing and scoring rules of the game were of his 
invention, suggestion or advocacy, and his original method of 
scoring was, and still is, the model for all scorers. 

JAMES A. HART AND F. C. RICHTER 

also contributed materially to the improvement of the Playing 
Rules. James A. Hart, from his start in Base Ball as a team 
manager in 1881 up to 1903, was prolific of suggestions for 
improvement in the rules. As chairman of the National League 
Committee on Playing Rules in the '90s, he promoted several 
revisions of the rules and in 1901 he fathered the foul-strike 
rule — at the suggestion of Umpire Henry O'Day — and the rule 
compelling the catcher to remain under the bat continuously. He 
also secured the elimination of the "earned run" from the scoring 
rules in 1898. He was born in Augusta, Ga., in 1858, and after 
some experience with minor league clubs, he became manager 
of the Louisville Club, of the American Association, in 1883, and 
subsequently the president of that club. Later he served as 
manager in Milwaukee and Boston, and in 1892 he became presi- 
dent of the Chicago National League Club, holding that position 
until 1905, when the Chicago Club was purchased by Messrs. 
Taft and Murphy, of Cincinnati, since which time he has de- 
voted himself to private business. The author of this History 
AND Records of Base Ball was born in Philadelphia in 1854, 



28o Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

amd has been a journalist since early youth. In 1883 he founded 
Sporting Life^ and has edited it ever since, and so successfully 
as to make it the great organ of the National Game. He has 
also been the Editor of the "Reach Guide" for the past fifteen 
years. In the thirty-one years of Sporting Life's existence its 
editor has necessarily had more or less influence in the shaping 
of the legislation and the playing rules of the game, and to his 
credit must be placed, primarily, the lengthening of the pitching 
distance to 60 feet 6 inches in 1893. All of the preceding year 
the writer made a steady and vigorous campaign in Sporting 
Life for the relegation of the pitcher to the exact center of the 
diamond — at the original suggestion of Mr. William R. Lester, 
then an editorial writer on the Philadelphia "Record," and an 
ardent advocate of increased batting — and out of that campaign 
came as a compromise the present pitching distance, which has 
remained continuously at 60 feet 5 inches since 1894. 




Alfred J. Reach 



Who Rose From the Ranks of the Early Days to 
Supreme Heights in Base Ball 




LEADERS IN BASE BALL 

Hfet Of tlje jWen "Wi^o Mmh ©ut ^re=€mment in tfje 
<§ame jFor ^ome special ^ttjietiement of ©rsani^ation, 
Eegiislation, or (general ?Ep=puilbing. 

(HE game of Base Ball, whose inception 
and development to national stature 
embraces only two generations, in that 
comparatively brief space of time has cre- 
ated and developed a number of superla- 
tively great men in all departments of the 
game, but particularly in its constructive 
and legislative phases; and a host of les- 
ser, but nevertheless able, if not brilliant, lights, who have shed 
lustre upon the game, as magnates, managers and players. In 
view of the fact that some of the men who were in the thick of 
the fight in the early and precarious days of the sport are still 
living, it may seem invidious to single out some of the host of 
base ball stars for exaltation above their fellow-laborers in the 
base ball vineyard ; yet something is due the great ones of the past 
and present, and simple justice to them, together with regard 
for the truths of history, demand that spirit, achievement, and 
assured place in the annals of the sport be not ignored, obscured, 
or altogether forgotten at this period of base ball grandeur under 
new conditions and new leaderships. "Honor to whom honor 
is due" is not such a universal rule in the ever-shifting base ball 
world that the truthful historian need hesitate about keeping the 
present generation acquainted with the real facts and events in 
base ball history, even at the cost of adverse criticism or possible 
injustice through oversight. Herewith we give a list of 

PRE-EMINENTLY GREAT MEN 

in the domain of Base Ball from the inception of the game to the 
present time, according to absolutely unbiased, though perhaps 
fallible, judgment — a list which may be said to number the 
"Immortals of Base Ball:" 

General Abneb Dotjbleday, of Cooperstown, N. Y., may properly be 
placed at the head, of the galaxy, as he gave to Base Ball a scientific study 
of the mathematical relation of human physical capabilities to the game's 



282 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

implements, and provided the wonderful diamond whose dimensions have 
not varied an inch since its invention by him 67 years ago. 

Alexander J. Caetwright, of New York, is entitled to prominence 
as the "Organizer of the First Club" devoted wholly to the playing and 
development of Base Ball, and the first to appoint a committee to codify 
the playing rules, and give them written form. 

Henry Chadwick, of New York, was justly entitled to the title 
"Father of Base Ball," by reason of his enormous publicity efforts for the 
sport in its developing years, and his genius in the development of the 
Playing Rules from crude beginning to scientific perfection. 

Harry Wright, of Cincinnati, O., was the real "Father of Profes- 
sional Base Ball," and was also the greatest team organizer and manager 
in the history of the sport. He first crystallized semi-professional ball into 
real professional ball, and originated and developed playing and scoring 
rules to such an extent that few changes were necessary after his day. 

William H. Hulbert, of Chicago, was the unquestioned "Savior of 
the Game," as he was the designer and organizer of the basis upon which 
Base Ball is conducted to this day, and the only basis upon which it can be 
permanently maintained. He was the organizer of the National League, 
its firmest executive, and the man who so effectually stamped out the then 
rampant evil of crooked play that it has never raised its head since. 

Albert G. Spalding, of Rockford, Ills., was the greatest "Builder in 
Base Ball." He was superlatively great as player, manager, club owner, and 
in business as it related to Base Ball. He was the greatest propagandist 
and missionary the game ever knew and spent more time, labor, and 
money in spreading the gospel of Base Ball than any other man of record. 

Albert G. Mills, of New York, was the "Legislative Genius of Base 
Ball." He was the broadest-minded and ablest lawyer Base Ball ever 
boasted. He made the league circuit national, by broadening its scope ; 
and he was the author of the first National Agreement, and proponent of 
the first Reserve Rule. 

Alfred J. Reach, of Philadelphia, is the "Business Genius of Base 
Ball." Rising from the ranks, he became a power in the National League, 
the founder of the greatest sporting goods manufacturing house in the 
world, and the silent "power behind the throne" in numberless financing 
operations in Base Ball. 

Benjamin F. Shibe, of Philadelphia, is the "Mechanical Genius of 
Base Ball." His numerous inventions have standardized the implements of 
the game, have given the sport a standard ball, and have made possible the 
playing of the game for millions of youths of the country. Moreover, he 
is the pioneer of the modern base ball stadium. 

Ban B. Johnson, of Chicago, is the "Greatest Executive of Base 
Ball" of this generation. He was the greatest fighter and the most mag- 
nanimous conqueror the game ever knew, and was just as great in peace as 
in war by reason of his introduction of the dual-league system which was 
the basis of a new era of enormous development and prosperity in Base Ball. 

August Herrmann, of Cincinnati, is the "Greatest Arbitrator of Base 
Ball" of this generation. Uniting rare constructive and executive talents 
he was and is the greatest pacificator, the ablest developer of a new and 
complex governmental system, and the most capable administrator the 
game has yet developed. 

Charles A. Comisegey, of Chicago, is the "Collosus of Base Ball." 
From the start of his career, as player, manager, magnate, and league 
organizer he has always loomed large in the public eye by reason of his 
breadth of vision, depth of purpose and power of execution ; and by reason 
of his magnetic and rugged personality, which earned for him the title, 
the "Old Roman." Rising from the ranks, he is today the most popular of 
magnates and the most powerful individual factor in the game. 

Now if there is any man in base ball history whose efforts 
or achievements in any phase of the game — except, of course, the 
mere playing end of it — can equal that of anyone of the above- 



Leaders in Base Ball 283 

named list of immortals, we do not know it, and we claim a 
rather intimate acquaintance with base ball men and history of 
the past and present. The men embraced in our short list were 
originators, creators, developers in Base Ball in the highest sense 
of the word, and their labors in the various formative stages of 
the game had epochal eifect. Moreover, no one of our immortal 
dozen ever neutralized or retarded his creative or constructive 
work by any great blunder. But there is 

A HOST OF LESSER LIGHTS, 

men who have done yeoman service in and for Base Ball, who 
deserve mention in any records of the game. This, of course, 
refers only to those who have been active and efficacious as 
organizers, legislators and promoters of the great sport, as the 
players of the game have a place apart by reason of the fact that 
they only executed what others planned and prescribed, and also 
reaped what others sowed. In the early days of the game the 
chief interest centered in and about New York, where the sport 
began its development as the game of Base Ball. In that devel- 
opment Alexander J. Cartwright, Duncan F. Curry, W. H. Van 
Cott, Thomas G. Voorhis, William R. Wheaton, William H. 
Tucker, E. R. Dupignac, Jr., Daniel L. Adams and C. V. Ander- 
son, all of New York, were the chief factors. As the game spread 
all of the leading cities in the East, and in the course of time in 
the West and South also, organized clubs which became local 
institutions. These in turn developed men who in time acquired 
more or less national reputations as organizers, backers or con- 
ductors of the clubs, and of these a list, depending largely upon 
memory for the most remote period, is appended : 

Ai-TOONA, Pa. — H. W. Guinness, organizer of Altoona's first club, 
the Mountain Club, in 1862. Charles F. Carpenter, president of the Tri- 
State League from 1906 to 1913, inclusive : 

Albany, N. Y. — H. A. Carpenter, organizer of Albany's first club, the 
National Club, in 1864 ; J. L. Babcock, organizer of the Knickerbocker Club 
in 1865. 

Boston. Mass. — John A. Lowell, organizer of the Bowdoin and Lowell 
Clubs in 1861. Corliss Wadleigh, first president of the New England Asso- 
ciation in 1865. Ivers W. Adams, president of the Boston Club of 1872. 
Charles H. Porter, president of the Boston Club of 1873-74. N. T. Appolo- 
nio, president of the Boston Club, 1875-76. A. H. Soden, president of the 
Boston, National League, Club, from 1877 to 1906. Harry Wright, mana- 
ger of the four- time Boston Champions of the '70s. Managers J. F. Morrill 
and Frank Selee. Charles Prince, owner of the Boston, Players' League, 
and Association Clubs of 1890-91. Charles W. Somers, organizer of the 
Boston, American League, Club, and its president in 1901-02. Henry Kil- 



284 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

lilea, owner and president of the Boston, American League, Club in 1903. 
Gen. Charles H. Taylor and his son, John I. Taylor, owners of the Boston, 
American League, Club from 1903 to 1912. "Jimmy" Collins, manager of 
the champion Boston, American League, Club. George B. Dovey, president 
of the Boston, National League, Club. James E. Gaffney, president of the 
Boston, National League, Club at this time. George Wright, who became 
as successful in business as he was in playing ball. Jake Stahl, who man- 
aged the Boston American League and World's Champion Boston, American 
League, team of 1912. 

Brooklyn, N. Y. — Thomas F. Power, organizer of the famous Atlantic 
Club in 1855. Henry Chadwick, first regular writer on Base Ball and 
original chairman of a playing rules committee. Jeremiah N. Tappan, 
organizer of the Excelsior Club in 1854. Prank Pigeon, of the famous 
Eckfords of 1858. Robert Ferguson, president of the first Professional 
Association and the only player to head a major league while actively 
fengaged in the game. Edward Simpson, of the Powhattan Club of 1858. 
Joe Doyle and Gus Abell, organizers of the present Brooklyn Club in 1883. 
Charles H. Byrne, president of the Brooklyn Club, and a power in the 
American Association. Last, but not least, Charles H. Ebbets, connected 
with the Brooklyn Club since 1884, dean of National League magnates, 
builder of the new and magnificent Ebbets Field, and president of the club 
from 1898 to the present time. 

Baltimore, Md. — Arthur Pue Gorman, president of the National 
Association in 1866. William H. Barnie, organizer of the Baltimore 
Association Club. Harry Vonderhorst, president of the Baltimore Asso- 
ciation and National League Clubs. Edward Hanlon, famous manager of 
the famous champion Baltimore, National League, Club, and president of 
the club from 1893 to 1900. John J. McGraw and Wilbert Robinson, 
organizers of the Baltimore, American League, Club. Sydney W. Frank, 
president of the Baltimore, American League, Club in 1901. John J. 
Mahon, president of the Baltimore, American League, Club in 1902. John 
Dunn, organizer of the Baltimore, International League, Club. 

Buffalo. N. Y. — E. B. Smith, president of the Buffalo, National 
League, Club in 1879. John B. Sage, president of the Buffalo, National 
League, Club in 1880. Josiah Jewell, president of the Buffalo, National 
League, Club from 1881 to 1886. Alderman James Franklin, organizer 
and owner of the Buffalo, Eastern League, Club. Jacob J. Stein, presi- 
dent of the present Buffalo, International League, Club. Harry L. Taylor, 
former president of the Eastern League and now a County Judge. 

Detroit, Mich. — J. W. Van Norman, president of the Northwestern 
Association in 1866. Hon. W. G. Thompson, president of the Detroit, Na- 
tional League, Club from 1881 to 1884. Joseph A. Marsh, president of the 
Detroit, National League, Club, 1885-86. Fred Steans, under whose presi- 
dency Detroit won its first, and last. National League pennant and only 
World's Championship, with W. H. Watkins as manager, in 1887. Charles 
W. Smith under whose presidency in 1888 the Detroit Club's franchise in 
the National League was relinquished. Joseph W. Burns and George W. 
Stallings, organizers of the Detroit, American League, Club in 1900. 
Samuel F. Angus, owner of the Detroit, American League, Club in 1902-03. 
William H. Yawkey and Frank J. Navin, under whose joint ownership 
Detroit won three successive League championships, with Hugh Jennings 
as manager. 

Chicago, Ills. — G. Charles Smith, president of the Excelsior Club in 
the early '60s, and first president of the Northwestern Association, organized 
in 1865. Norman T. Gassette, organizer of the White Stockings in 1870. 
William A. Hulbert, organizer of the National League and president of 
the Chicago, National League, Club from 1876 to 1882. A. G. Spalding, 
the player-manager-merchant, president of the Chicago, National League, 
Club from 1882 to 1892. James A. Hart, president of the Chicago, Na- 
tional League, Club from 1892 to 1906, and a leader in playing rules 
amendments. Charles W. Murphy, president of the Chicago, National 
League, Club from 1906 to the present time. Charles A. Comiskey, presi- 
dent of the Chicago, American League, Club and organizer of the Western 
League, which developed into the great American League. A. C. Anson, 
for nearly two decades leader of the Chicago, National League, team and 



Leaders in Base Ball 285 

one of the greatest batsmen the game produced. Frank Chance, manager of 
the Chicago, National League, champion teams of 1906-07-08-10. 

Cincinnati, Ohio. — Dr. Draper and A. B. Champion, organizers of 
the famous Red Stockings, of the '70s; the first purely professional club 
of record, which, under Harry Wright's management, made a record of 
unparalleled artistic success. Dr. John Draper, organizer of the Live 
Oaks. John A. Joyce, delegate at the organization meeting of the National 
League in 1876. J. L. Keck, president of the Cincinnati, National League, 
Club of 1876-77. J. M. W. Nefif, president of the Cincinnati, National 
League, Club in 1878-79. Justus W. Thorner, president of the Cincinnati, 
National League, Club in 1880, and organizer of the Cincinnati, American 
Association, Club of 1882, which won Cincinnati's first and only pennant 
in any league. Louis Kramer, president of the American Association 
during the revolt of 1891. Aaron Stern, president of the Cincinnati, Ameri- 
can Association, Club, who took his club into the National licague in 
1890 and at the end of that season sold it to the Players' League. John T. 
Brush, owner and president of the Cincinnati Club from 1891 to 1903. 
August Herrmann, president of the Cincinnati Club from 1903 to the 
present time. John E. Bruce, secretary-treasurer of the National Com- 
mission. 

Cleveland, Ohio. — J. Ford Evans, organizer and president of the 
Cleveland, National League, Club from 1879 to 1881. C. H. Bulkley, presi- 
dent of the Cleveland Club from 1882 to 1884. George W. Howe, president 
of the Cleveland, American Association, Club, and also honorary member 
of the National League. Frank De Haas Robinson, organizer of the Cleve- 
land, American Association, Club, which was subsequently transferred to 
the National League. Charles W. Somers and John Kilfoyl, organizers of 
the Cleveland, American League, Club, the former being also the chief 
financial man of the American League during its war of 1901-02 with the 
National League. M. Stanley Robison, president of the Cleveland, Na- 
tional League., Club of 1899-1900. 

Columbus, Ohio. — James A. Williams, pitcher of the Capital Club 
in 1867, organizer of the first minor league in 1877, and later, secretary 
of the old American Association. Cooney Born, organizer of the Columbus 
Club, of the American Association. Wheeler WikofC, president of the 
American Association. H. T. Chittenden, president of the Columbus Club 
of 1882. Gus Schmelz, a famous manager. Allan Thurman, member of 
the Arbitration Committee of 1892. Thomas J. Bryce, organizer of the 
Columbus Club, of the present American Association. E. M. Schoenborn, 
president of the present American Association club. 

Dubuque, Ia. — Ted P. Sullivan, veteran manager and organizer of 
many minor leagues ; and Thomas J. Loftus, famous player, manager and 
minor league executive. 

Hartford, Conn. — Gershorn B. Hubbell, organizer of the Charter 
Oak Club in 1862. Morgan G. Bulkeley, organizer of the National League 
Club of 1876, and first president of the National League. 

Indianapolis, Ind. — W. B. Pettit, organizer and president of the Na- 
tional League club of 1878. John T. Brush, organizer of the Indianapolis, 
National League, Club of 1887, and author of the player and salary classi- 
fication rules of the National League in the Winter of 1888, which led 
to the revolt of the Ball Players' Brotherhood in 1890. W. H. Watkins, 
president of the Indianapolis, American League, Club of 1900; one of 
the organizers of the American Association in 1902 ; and for many years 
manager and part owner of the Indianapolis Club of that league. 

Kansas City, Mo. — John W. Speese, organizer of the Kansas City 
Club, of the old American Association. L. C. Krauthoff, now a great cor- 
poration lawyer in Chicago, leading light in the American Association and 
member of the Arbitration Committee of 1891. Joseph J. Heim, president 
of the Kansas City, National League, Club of 1886. James J. Manning, 
president and manager of the Kansas City Club, of the Western League 
and American League, whose franchise was transferred by the American 
League to Washington, D. C, in 1901. George Tebeau, organizer of the 
Kansas City, present American Association, Club in 1902. 



\ 



286 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Louisville, Ky. — Alexander G. Booth, organizer of the Louisville 
Club in 1865. Charles E. Chase, one of the organizers of the National 
League. W. N. Haldeman, president of the Louisville, National League, 
Club in 1876-77. J. H. Panke, president of the Louisville, American Asso- 
ciation, Club of 1882, and one of the organizers of the American Associa- 
tion ; James A. Hart, president of the Louisville Club in 1883. Dr. T. 
Hunt Stucky, president of the Louisville, National League, Club in 1892. 
Fred Drexler, president from 1884 to 1896. Harry C. Pulliam — afterwards 
president of the National League — president of the Louisville Club in 1897- 
98-1900. Barney Drey fuss — now president of the Pittsburgh, National 
League, Club — president of the Louisville Club in 1899. 

Newark, N. J. — William H. Greathead, organizer of the city's first 
club, the Americus Club in 1864. 

Norwich, Conn. — Gen. Edward Harland, organizer of the Uncas Club 
in 1865 ; E. G. Seldon, organizer of the Chester Club in 1866. 

Milwaukee, Wis. — J. R. Kaine, president of the Milwaukee, Na- 
tional League, Club in its only year of existence in 1878. Harry D. Quinn, 
organizer of the Milwaukee Club, of the Western League, in the '80s. Matt 
Killilea, president of the Milwaukee Club, of the American League, in 
1900 and 1901. Charles S. Havenor, organizer of the Milwaukee Club, of 
the new American Association, 1902. 

New York, N. Y. — James W. Davis, first proposer of the National 
Association of Amateur Base Ball Players in 1857. Alexander Cartwright, 
organizer of the Knickerbocker Club and first compiler of the Playing 
Rules. Abner Doubleday, designer of the base ball field. R. Tuche, 
organizer of the Gotham Club in 1852. John W. Mott, organizer of the 
Eagle Club in 1854. Thomas S. Voorhees, organizer of the Enterprise 
Club in 1854. John Carland, organizer of the famous Mutual Club in 
1857. George Starr, organizer of the famous Unions, of Morrisania, in 
1855. W. H. Cammeyer, president and manager of the Mutual Club in the 
first year of the Professional Association and also in that club's first year 
in the National League. Walter S. Appleton and James Mutrie, organizers 
of the Metropolitan Club in 1882 with Mutrie manager of the champion club 
of the American Association in 1884. John B. Day, owner and president 
of the New York, National League, Club from 1883 to 1892. Gen. Mc- 
Alpin and "Eddie" Talcott, backers of the New York Players' League Club in 
1890. John M. Ward, leader of the Brotherhood and one of the organizers 
of the Players' League in 1890. Cornelius Van Cott, president of the New 
York, National League, Club in 1893-94. Andrew Preedman, president of the 
New York, National League, Club from 1895 to 1902. John T. Brush, presi- 
dent of the New York, National League, Club from 1903 to the time of his 
death in the Fall of 1912. Joseph W. Gordon, president of the New York 
American League, Club in 1903. Frank J. Farrell, organizer of the New 
York, American League, Club and its president from 1904 to 1913, in- 
clusive. 

Philadelphia, Pa. — Theodore E. Weidersheim, organizer of the Min- 
erva Club in 1857. Samuel L. Barnes, organizer of the Keystone Club in 
1859. Col. Thomas Fitzgerald, organizer of the Athletic Club in 1860. 
Lawrence K. Mann, organizer of the Equity Club in 1860. Robert E. Les- 
ter, organizer of the Swiftfoot Club in 1866. Thomas J. Smith, president 
of the Athletic Club in its first year in the National League. N. P. Young, 
organizer of the first Philadelphia Club in 1874. A. H. Wright, manager of 
the Athletic team of 1876, in the National League. Hick Hayhurst, mana- 
ger of the champion Athletic team, of the first Professional Association, in 
1871. George W. Thompson, Athletic Club delegate to the organization 
meeting of the National League, and president of the Athletic Club of 
1876. A. J. Reach, organizer of the Philadelphia Club in 1882, which 
was admitted to the National League in 1883, and president of that club 
for 20 years. Col. John I. Rogers, treasurer of the Philadelphia Club, and 
for many years famous as the "Lawyer of the National League." Harry 
Wright, manager of the Philadelphia National League Club from 1885 to 
1893. William Sharsig and Charles Mason, organizers of the Athletic 
Club, of the American Association, in 1882. B. F. Shibe and F. L. Hough, 
organizers of the Athletic, American League, Club in 1901. Connie Mack, 
manager of the World's Champion Athletic Club. James Potter, president 



Leaders in Base Ball 287 

of the Philadelphia Club in 1903-04. William J. Shettsline, president of 
the Philadelphia, National League, Club from 1905 to 1908. Horace S. 
Fogel, president of the Philadelphia, National League, Club from 1909 to 
1913. William H. Locke, purchaser of the Philadelphia, National League, 
Club from Messrs. Taft and Murphy, and president of the club in 1913 
until his death in August of that year. William F. Baker, successor to Mr. 
Locke as president of the Philadelphia Club and sponsor for the successful 
candidacy of Gov. Tener, of Pennsylvania, for the National League Presi- 
dency, Fall of 1913. 

Portland, Ore. — F. F. Miner, organizer of that city's first club, the 
Pioneer Club, in 1866; W. W. McCredie, organizer of the Portland Club, of 
the Pacific Coast League. Fielder Jones, president of the Northwestern 
League. The late W. H. Lucas, organizer of the Northwestern League. 

Paterson, N. J. — Simon J. Carroll, organizer of the city's first club, 
the Olympic Club, in 1864 ; James McCormick, famous pitcher of the '80s. 

Pittsburgh, Pa. — J. J. Moore, organizer of the Allegheny Club in 
1860. Denny McKnight, one of the organizers of the first minor league in 
1877 ; also one of the organizers of the American Association in 1882, and 
its first president. Al Scandrett, for many years secretary of the Pitts- 
burgh, American Association, Club. W. A. Nimmick, president of the Pitts- 
burgh, National League, Club from 1887 to 1890. J. Palmer O'Neil, presi- 
dent of the Pittsburgh, National League, Club in 1891. William C. Temple, 
owner of the Pittsburgh, National League, Club for three years, its presi- 
dent in 1892, and donor of the famous Temple Cup, which was the trophy 
in the post-season National League series, which took the place of the 
World's Series, abandoned because of the non-existence of a rival major 
league. Al Buckenberger, president and manager of the Pittsburgh Club 
in 1893. William H. Watkins, manager and president of the club in 1898. 
W. W. Kerr, president of the club in 1894-95-96-97-99. Barney Dreyfuss, 
who bought the club in 1900, consolidated it with the Louisville and Pitts- 
burgh teams, and gave Pittsburgh its first National League and World's 
Champion teams. Fred Clarke, Pittsburgh's most successful manager, 
with pennant captures in 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1909. 

Providence, R. I. — John D. Thurston, first president of Providence's 
first National League club in 1878. Henry T. Root, president of the Provi- 
dence, National League, Club in 1879, 1880, 1811, 1884, 1885. Henry B. 
Winship, president of the Providence, National League, Club in 1882, 
1883. Henry T. Allen, secretary of the Providence, National League, Club 
from 1880 to 1885. 

RocKFORD, Ills. — Hiram H. Waldo, organizer of the famous Forest 
Club, of Rockford, of the '60s; and "Father of Base Ball" in the West. 
A. G. Spalding, who started his wonderful career in this city as a 
winning pitcher in 1867, when he was only 17 years old. James F. Mc- 
Kee, one of the organizers of the first Northwestern League in 1879. 

Troy, N. Y. — J. W. Kerns, first president of the first National Asso- 
ciation of Professional Players. Gardner Earle, president of the Troy, 
National League, Club in 1879-1880. A. L. Hotchkiss, president of the 
Troy, National League, Club in 1881. Francis N. Mann, president of the 
Troy, National League, Club in the last year of its existence, 1882. 

Syracuse, N. Y. — Hamilton S. White, president of the Syracuse Na- 
tional League, Club during 1879 — the only year that city was represented in 
the senior major league. 

St. Louis, Mo. — Jesse Fruin, introducer of the game in the '50s; 
August Solari, builder of the first ball park in St. Louis in 1871. Henry 
Clay Sexton, president of the Empire Club, organized in 1864. J. R. C. 
Lucas, organizer of St. Louis' first professional club, the Browns, in 1875; 
president of the first St. Louis, National League, Club in 1876-77. Charles 
A. Fowle, assistant to W. H. Hulbert, of Chicago, in organizing the No- 
tional League in 1876. S. W. Graffen, manager of St. Louis' first National 
League club in 1876. Henry V. Lucas, organizer of the outlaw Union Asso- 
ciation in 1884 and owner and president of the St. Louis, National League, 
Club in 1885-86. Chris von der Abe, organizer of the St. Louis, American 
Association, Club and its president from 1882 to 1902; also president of 
the St. Louis, National League, Club (which absorbed the St. Louis, Asso- 



288 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

elation, Club) from 1892 to 1897, Inclusive. Charles A. Comiskey, manager- 
player of the famous St. Louis Browns from 1883 to 1889, inclusive. Benja- 
min S. Muckenfuss, president of the St. Louis, National League, Club in 
1898. Frank De Haas Robison, owner and president of the St. Louis, Na- 
tional League, Club from 1899 to 1906, inclusive. M. Stanley Robison, 
president of the St. Louis, National League, Club from 1907 until 1911, when 
he died, bequeathing the club to his niece, Mrs. Schuyler Britton, who has 
since conducted the club, first through Mr. Steininger and then through her 
husband, she being the first female major league magnate of record and also 
the first woman to sit in the councils of the National League. Ralph Orth- 
wein, organizer of the St. Louis, American League, Club in 1902. Robert 
L. Hedges, president of the St. Louis, American League, Club from 1903 
to 1914. 

San Francisco, Cal. — W. E. Gelston, organizer of the Eagle Club 
in 1860 ; John A. Mone, organizer of the California League. Waller Wal- 
lace, noted manager and writer. J. Cal Ewing, organizer of the Pacific 
Coast League. Danny Long, veteran organizer and manager. 

Utica, N. Y. — Samuel Barnum, organizer of the Utica Club, first of 
a long line of clubs in the city, in 1859. 

Washington, D. C. — James Morrow and Arthur Pue Gorman, organ- 
izers of the famous National Club, which made the first Western trip of 
record, in 1867. Hon. H. Seldon, organizer of the Potomac Club in 1865. 
Mike Scanlon, noted promoter and manager in the '70s. H. B. Bennett, 
president of the outlaw Union Association in 1884. A. G. Mills, famous 
as a base ball lover and student, president of the National League in 1884- 
85, and author of the first National Agreement. N. E. Young, secretary 
of the first Professional Association from 1871 to 1875, inclusive ; secretary 
of the National League from 1876 to 1884, inclusive ; and president of the 
National League from 1885 to 1901, inclusive — a continuous service of 31 
years. Robert C. Hewett, president of the Washington, National League, 
Club from 1886 to 1888, inclusive. Walter F. Hewett, president of the 
Washington, National League, Club in 1889. George W. Wagner, presi- 
dent, and J. Earle Wagner, his brother, manager, of the Washington, Na- 
tional League, Club from 1892 to 1900. Jimmy Manning, organizer of the 
Washington, American League, Club in 1901, and Fred Postal, president 
of that club from 1901 to 1903, inclusive. Thomas J. Loftus, president of 
the Washington, American League, Club in 1904. Thomas C. Noyes, 
president of the Washington, American League, Club from 1905 to the 
time of his death in 1912. Benjamin S. Minor^ president of the Washing- 
ton, American League, Club in 1913. 

Worcester, Mass. — Hon. C. B. Pratt, president of Worcester's first, 
and only National League club in 1880, 1881, 1882. Frank Bancroft, 
manager of the Worcester, National League, Club and since continuously 
employed in the major league field, either as team or business managar. 

Waterbury, Conn. — Henry S. Peck and George H. Pendleton, organ- 
izers of the Waterbury Club in 1864. 

The above list constitutes a wonderful galaxy of men of 
varying degrees of greatness who have served the National Game 
more or less well, each according to his lights, ability and oppor- 
tunity. But, in addition we have a great host of lesser lights 
in the army of promoters, magnates, and managers who have, 
from the '70s to the present time, labored faithfully to sow the 
good seed everywhere, not only in this country, but abroad. 
This list is too vast for individual distinction within the limits 
of this chapter, and so a general tribute must suffice for all. 
Their individual and collective labors, however, have borne such 
good fruit that today virtually every town of any importance 



Leaders in Base Ball 289 

whatsoever is included in the circuit of some one of the thirty-six 
minor leagues now dotting the country from Maine to Mexico 
and from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Coast, including even 
our Island possessions, and Canada and Cuba. Of this great 
host of minor league organizers justice compels special mention 
of such really great men as James A. Williams, Hiram Waldo, 
Denny McKnight, Ted Sullivan, William H. Lucas, Patrick T. 
Powers, and the present officers of the great National Associa- 
tion of Minor Leagues, President M. H. Sexton and Secretary 
John H. Farrell. 



~^.19 




Famous Players of the Past 



1- — First baseman John ("Buck") Freeman. 2 — Outfielder William 
H. Hamilton. 3 — Catcher Charles Bennett. 4 — Pitcher Charles ("Kid") 
Nichols. 5 — Pitcher Charles Ferguson. 6 — Outfielder Joseph Kelley. 7 — 
Pitcher Matt Kilroy. 8 — Pitcher John Clarkson. 




PLAYERS OF BASE BALL 

21 ComprefiensJitie ifet of tfje ^rofes^siional ^laj»erg of tfte 
iSational #ame OTifjo ^cfjiebeb (great jFame tEfjrougfi 
g>erbice in ^ome iWajor iLeague &intt tlie late g>ixtiejS. 

O sport of this, or any other, nation has 
produced so many great exponents, or 
created so many popular heroes and idols 
as Base Ball. This happy disposition to 
idealize the game and its exemplars, 
which was a tremendous factor in the 
nationalization of the sport, prevailed 
almost from the start of the game; was 
given its greatest impetus with the advent of the Cincinnati Reds, 
and the consequent complete professionalizing of the sport; was 
developed by the league system, which made clubs local institu- 
tions, and stimulated sectional and local partisanship and rivalry ; 
and crystalized into a permanent condition by the Reserve Rule, 
which bound players to clubs and gave local constituents a pro- 
prietary interest and pride in every player who distinguished him- 
self, and thereby developed a personal and sentimental side of 
the sport to an amazing degree. In proportion as clubs and 
players became representative of a league or a city, so they 
became not only locally popular, but nationally famous to such 
a degree that particular clubs became indelibly impressed upon 
the public mind as representative of certain epochs in the devel- 
opment of the game, and hundreds of players established for 
themselves undying reputations as local and national stars ; and so 
it happened that each major league city in time acquired 'Certain 
players whose names became household words, and whose mem- 
ory was cherished long after they vanished from the scene of ac- 
tion in obedience to the inexorable law of nature, and the inher- 
ent mutations of the sport. Herewith is given a fairly accurate 
list of the players who, in their day, were, or are now, either 
idols or popular heroes in the major league cities from the estab- 
lishment of the sport upon professional basis to the present time : 

Boston, Mass. — ^Al G. Spalding, George Wright, Cal McVey, Harry 
Schaefer, Harry Wrigiit, Jim White, Andy Leonard, Tommy Beals, W. R. 
Parks, Birdsall, Elone J. Jackson, James O'Rourke, Ross Barnes, John 
Morrill, Sam Wise, J. Burdock, Ezra Sutton, W. M. Nash, Tommy Bond, 



292 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Joe Hornung, J. Manning, William Whitney, Charley Bennett, John Clark- 
son, Paul Radford, Herman Long, Hugh Duffy, Robert Lowe, Charles Nich- 
ols, Charles Ganzel, Tom Gunning, Charles Buffington, Mike Hines, T. 
Murnane, W. Stemmyer, Pat Dealey, Mike Kelly, W. H. Wheelock, John 
Clarkson, Charles Radbourn, Tom Brown, John O'Brien, George Haddock, 
William Joyce, Thomas Dowd, Mike J. Sullivan, Harry Staley, Harry 
Stovey, Dicky Johnston, Mike Madden, Tom McCarthy, F. Connaughton, 
T. Bannon, Fred Tenney, Fred Klobedanz, Ed. Lewis, George Yeager, 
Marty Bergen, Jimmy Slagle, William A. Sullivan, W. Dineen, Vic. Willis, 
Ray Collins, Chick Stahl, Tris Speaker, Joe Wood, Duffy Lewis, Jimmy 
Collins, Harry Hooper, Cy Young, W. Carrigan, Jake Stahl, W. Maranville. 

Bbooklyn, N. Y. — James P. Creighton, F. Norton, Lip Pike, Pratt, 
Pearce, Charles Smith, Peter O'Brien, S. Smith, N. Hicks, Martin, Swan- 
dell, Nelson, McDonald, Holdsworth, Gedney, Jack Chapman, Zettlein, Tom 
Dolan, C. Hall, Sam Kimber, Bill Greenwood, Charles Householder, Fred 
Warner, Oscar Walker, Bill Krieg, John Harkins, Henry Porter, Con. 
Daily, Tom Lovett, S. J. Toole, Jim McTamany, "Darby" O'Brien, Hub 
Collins, Joe Visner, M. T. Hughes, George J. Smith, Bob Clark, John Cork- 
hill, William Joyce, Tim Jordan, Bert Inks, Tom Kinslow, Tom Corcoran, 
Bill Hart, Ed Stein, George Lachance, Dan Daub, Tom Daly, W. Gilbert, 
G. Treadway, Con. Lucid, G. Anderson, W. Shindle, Jimmy Canavan, 
George Smith, John Anderson, Fielder Jones, Bill Kennedy, Alex. Smith, 
George Magoon, W. Bergen, Jimmy Casey, Frank Kitson, Bill Burns, 
Swartwood, Pinckney, Will Terry, Dave Foutz, William Dahlen, William 
Keeler, Jim Sheckard, Nap Rucker, Jake Daubert, Zach Wheat, Mike Gritiin, 
John Hummeil. 

Buffalo, N. Y. — Dan Brouthers, Jim White, Jack Rowe, tiardy 
Richardson (the Big Four) ; Jim O'Rourke, G. Derby, W. Purcell, 
Jimmy Galvin, William Bottenus, Dave Eggler, Dave Force, Bill Clymer, 
Harry L. Taylor, "Curry" Foley, George Schafer, Jim Kennedy, Bill Crow- 
ley, Will Serad, Jim Lillie, Bob Blackiston, George E. Meyers, E. J. Hen- 
gle. J. Halligan, Sam Wise, Mark Baldwin, George Keefe, Bob Stafford, 
Gus Crock, P. Hafford. 

Baltimore, Md. — Billy Barnie, R. Emslie, Phil Baker, Dan Stearns, 
Ed Hanlon, Hugh Jennings, W. Gleason, John McGraw, Joe Kelley, Walter 
Brodie, William Clarke, H. Reitz, Willie Keeler, "Sadie" McMahon, Wil- 
bert Robinson, Frank Bowerman, E. Hoffer, Louis Say, Jimmy Clinton, 
Davy Fultz, F. Pond, Jerry Nops, Tom Corbett, G. Hemming, Joe Gun- 
son, Hardie Henderson, Tim Manning, Bill Traffley, Frank Gardner, Jake 
Evans, Tom Tucker, Mike Griffin, John F. Smith, Matty Kilroy, Joe Mack, 
Frank Foreman, Ed Tate, Billy Shindle, Charles Fulmer, Ed Cunningham, 
Tom Quinn, J. A. Kerins, Charles Esper, George Townsend, Perry Werden, 
Clarence Childs, Pete Gilbert, Jack Pickett, BUly Gilbert, W. Hawke, G. 
Carey, W. Keister. 

Chicago, III. — A. G. Spalding, Jim White, J. P. Peters, E. Woods, 
F. Treacey, J. Flynn, L. Meyerle, G. Pinkham, Mart King, J. McAtee, F. 
Crane, Cal McVey, Ross Barnes, P. A. Hines, O. Bielaskie, J. W. Glenn, 
J. F. Cone, Bob Addy, F. H. Andrus, E. Cuthbert, "Babe" Anson, "King" 
Mike Kelly, John Clarkson, Larry Corcoran, Goldsmith, Frank Flint, 
George Gore, M. S. Sullivan, A. Dalrymple, Billy Sunday, Joe Quest, Tom 
Burns, Hugh Nicol, Ed Williamson, Fritz Pfeffer, Bill Everitt, Bill Lange, 
B[ank O'Day, Ed Sutcliffe, Ollie Beard, Jimmy Ryan, John Flynn, Jim Mc- 
Cormick, Mark Baldwin, Dell Darling, Hugh Duffy, Charley Farrell, Frank 
Dwyer, A. C. Gumbert, John K. Teneb, Willie Hutchinson, Willie McGill, 
M. Kittredge, E. Foster, W. Cooney, Howard Earle, Bob Glenalvin, W. 
Merritt, John Luby, J. J. Connery, Bill Dahlen, Tom Vickery, S. Dungan, 
Martin Duke, W. Parrott, Fred Abbey, George Decker, Clark Griffith, Jiggs 
Donohue, Ace Stewart, Tim Donahue, Jimmy Callahan, Bert Briggs, Roger 
Denzer, Walter Thornton, Jimmy Conners, Danny Green, Barry McCormick, 
Frank Chance, Frank Isbell, George Van Haitren, Johnny Evers, Johnny 
Kling, Sam Mertes, Joe Tinker, H. Steinfeldt, H, Zimmerman, A. Hofman, 
Mordecai Brown, Ed Walsh, E. Reulbach, Fielder Jones, Jimmy Archer, 
*'Ping" Bodie. 

Cincinnati, O.— C. H. Gould, S. J. Fields, W. C. Fisher, Harry 
Wright, C. S. Sweasey, H. Kessler, R. Clark, A. S. Booth, D. P. Pier- 
son, Asa Brainard, Cal McVey, G. Wright, F. Waterman, "Long John" 



Players of Base Ball 293 

Reilly, Charley Fulmer, Charley Snyder, Phil Powers, Henry McCormick, 
John Corkhill, Will Carpenter, "Bug" HoUiday, John A. McPhee, 
Will White, Tony MuUane, "Buck" Ewing, Tb*>odore Breitenstein, 
George Smith, Tommy Corcoran, George Tebeau, Jake Beckley, Elmer 
Smith, G. E. Paskert, Hans Lobert, Bob Bescher, Clarence Baldwin, Joe 
Sommer, Charley Jones, Harry Wheeler, Joe Maculler, Will Mountjoy, 
Jimmy Peoples, George Miller, Gus Shallix, Jimmy Clinton, George Pech- 
iny, Jim Duryea, Billy Earle, Leon Viau, John G. Reilly, Hugh Nicol, Ollie 
Beard, Jerry Harrington, W. Rhines, W. E. Halligan, E. Chamberlain, 
Frank Motz, W. E. Hoy, W. Gray, "Dusty" Miller, Charley Irwin, H. 
Steinfeldt, N. Elberfeld, Jimmy Barrett, Frank Hahn, T. Breitenstein, 
George McBride, Doc Newton. 

Cleveland, O.— J. White, A. Pratt, J. Carleton, J. Kimball, Ezra Sut- 
ton, C. Bass, M. Faber, D. Allison, Jake Evans, Oliver (Patsy) Tebeau, 
Jack Glasscock, Hugh Daly, Bill Phillips, Charles Briody, Tom Faber, 
George Bradley, J. Muldoon, "Fat" Childs, Harry Bay, Terry Turner, 
Charles Ganzel, Amos Cross, Pete Hotaling, Jim McGuire, Charles Zim- 
mer, Henry Gruber, E. Bakely, Jay Faatz, Ed McKean, Larry Twitchell, 
Paul Radford, Bob Gilks, Ed Beatin, Jake Virtue, George Cuppy, Jesse 
Burkett, George Davis. "Chippy" McGarr, E. Graney, E. Blake, Bobby 
Wallace, Lew McAllister, John Powell, Lou Criger, Harry Blake, William 
Bradley, Dick Harley, Charles Hemphill, Elmer Flick, Fred Dunlap, Jim 
McCormick, George Schaefer, Jimmy McAleer, Cy Young, Napoleon Lajoie, 
Joe Birmingham and Joe Jackson. >— v„.a.- 

Detroit, Mich. — Dan Brouthers, Jim White, Hardy Richardson, J. 
Rowe, Charley Bennett, Sam Trott, Sadie Houck, Joe Quest, George Weid- 
man, Tom Mansell, Milton Scott, Fred Shaw, Charley Ganzel, Sana Thomp- 
son, Ed Hanlon, Sam Crawford, Vean Gregg, Matty Mclntyre, Manager 
Jennings, George MuUin, Jimmy Barrett, Davy Jones, Jim Delahanty, 
George Moriarty, Owen Bush, Charley Schmidt, Wild Bill Donovan, Charles 
Getzein, Larry Twitchell, Jimmy Manning, Charles B. Baldwin, P. J. Con- 
way, Fred Dunlap, Ty Cobb. 

New Yoek, N. Y. — Robert Ferguson, John Hatfield, Bobby Matthews, 
Nat Hicks, Joe Start, Jim Hallinan, Al Nichols, Ed Booth, T. J. Shandley, 
W. J. Boyd, W. H. Crane, C. Mills, W. Wolters, R. Pearce, D. Eggler, C. 
Patterson, John M. Ward, Alex. McKinnon, Jim O'Rourke, Roger Connor, 
Buck Ewing, Micky Welch, John Clapp, Mike Dorgan, Danny Richardson, 
William Ewing, P. Gillespie, Tim Keefe, Bill Holbert, Jack Nelson, Tommy 
Esterbrook, Jack Lynch, Steve Brady, Jim Roseman, Sam Crane, Charley 
Caskins, Charles Reipschlager, Dave Orr, Eddie Kennedy. "Dasher" Troy, 
Ed Caskins, Tom Griffin, Arthur Whitney, Frank Hankinson, Al Mays, 
Mike Tiernan, Bill Brown, Mike Slattcry. Ed Crane, George Gore, H. 
O'Day, R. Buckley, Lew Whistler, Amos Rusie, Jack Glasscock, George 
S. Davis, H. Lyons, "Shorty" Fuller, Eddie Burke, Willie Keeler, Jack 
Doyle, Lester German, Dan McGann, G. Bannon, Jouett Meekin, J. B. 
Seymour, Jack Warner, Dave Zearfoss, William ("Dad") Clarke, Bill Glea- 
son, Jimmy Stafford, P. A. Wilson, Mike Donlin, C. Mathewson, Fred 
Merkle, Joe McGinnity, George Wiltse, Rube Marquard, Larry Doyle, 
Arthur Fletcher, C. L. Herzog, A. Shafer, J. Murray, F. Snodgrass, George 
Burns, "Chief" Meyers, Arthur Wilson, John J. McGraw, Otis Crandall, 
Jack Chesbro, Jimmy Williams, Ed Sweeney, Hal Chase, R. Ford. 

Pittsburgh, Pa.— Ed Morris, Fred Carroll, Swartwood, Clark Griffith, 
Al Pratt, Fred Clarke, W. Phillippe, Bierbauer, Ritchey, Bransfield, Tommy 
Leach, Jake Stenzel, Bobby Byrne, Hans Wagner, Sam Barckley, George 
Creamer, Lew Dickerson, Bill Taylor, Mike Mansell, Horace S. Phillips, 
Jim Knowles, George Miller, Charley Smith, Bill Kuehne, John Richmond, 
J. Handiboe, J. HafEord, Arthur Whitney, Tommy Quinn, John J. Fields, 
George Van Haltren, A. Dalrymple, Alex. McKinnon, Jake Stenzel, Harry 
Staley, James McCormick, Al Maul, Jake Beckley, Jack Rowe, Alex. Jones, 
F. Hardie, Frank Shugart, Ed Hanlon, Connie Mack, P. Raymond, A. C. 
Buckenburger, Joe Sugden, Phil Knell, Frank Sheibeck, Patsy Donovan, 
H. Niles, R. Genins, Harry Davis, Richard Padden, Jimmy Donnelly, Jesse 
Tannehill, E. Abbaticchio, Frank Dillon, Jimmy Williams, C. Beaumont, 
J. Chesbro, Sam Leever. 

Philadelphia, Pa. — Pitcher Dick McBride, catcher Malone, Al Reach, 
M. McGeary, John Clapp, G. Dockney, Dicky Flower, George Heubel, 



294 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

Berckenstock, Wilkins, Kleinfelder, Sensenderfer, Wes. Fisler, Radcliff, 
Berry, Levi Meyerle, Tom Pratt, Ted Larkin, "Cub" Strieker, Fred Corey, 
"Jumping-Jack" Jones, Eddie Seward, George Wood, Sid Farrar, Arthur 
Irwin, Lon Knight, Ed Andrews, Jack O'Brien, Dave Rowan, Hardie Hen- 
derson, John Coleman, Billy Purcell, Ed McFarland, Bill Douglass, Frank 
Donahue, Al Orth, 0. Frazer, Harry Stovey, George Bradley, Billy Ham- 
ilton, James Fogarty, Ed J. Delahanty, Jud Birchall, Mike Grady, W. 
Bernhardt, John Milligan, Joe Mulvey, Jack Crowley, W. Gleason, Charley 
Reilly, Ed Fusselbach, Billy Hallman, Dennis Casey, Charley Bastian, Bob 
Allen, John Clements, Andy Cusick, Al Myers, L. Titcomb, Gus Weyhing, 
Denny Lyons, Sadie McMahon, Wilbert Robinson, A. B. Sanders, W. 
Shriver, Tom Turner, Jack Taylor, Sam Weaver, Dave Force, Bobby 
Matthews, Charley Ferguson, Lave Cross, Rube Waddell, Harry Davis, 
N. Lajoie, Virgil Garvin, Frank Geier, O. Schreckengost, Mike Powers, 
Elmer Flick, Socks Seybold, Monte Cross, Roy Thomas, H. Wolverton, Con- 
nie Mack, Bender, Coombs, Ed Plank, Sherwood Magee, Charley Dooin, Rube 
Oldring, Mclnnis, Barry, Baker, Cravath and Ed Collins. 

Milwaukee, W;is. — Tom Loftus, Tom Griffin, Tom Morrison, Sam 
Behel, Tom Sexton, Otto Schomberg, Steve Dunn, Dennis McGinley. Pat 
Dealey, Charley Baldwin, Ed Hogan, Ed Cushman, Frank Dwyer, George 
W. Davis, Harry Clark, Ray Schalk, W. Chappelle, Jack Grim, Howard 
Earle, H. Vaughn, Frank Killen. Mike Morris, W. Hughes, Jimmy Cana- 
van, W. Dahlen, Ed Burke, Bob Pettit, Tom Letcher, David L. Fultz, 
William Armour. 

Kansas City, Mo. — Dave Rowe, D. Dugdale, George Baker, Alex. 
McQueery, J. J. Lillie, Charles Briody, H. C. Long, C. L. Reynolds, P. B. 
Swartzell, Joe Gunson, Dan Stearns, Jimmy McGarr, Jim Connery, H. 
Esterday, James Burns, Charles E. Hoover, W. A. Hamilton, Herman 
Long, John Pickett, W. C. Alvord, Abner Powell. 

St. Louis, Mo. — G. W. Bradley, Jimmy Galvin, Lip Pike, Ed Cuth- 
bert, Joe Battin, R. J. Peakes, Denny McGee (Mack), Tom Miller, H. T. 
Dehlman, Mike McGeary, John Clapp, Hugh McDonald, Dan Morgan, Joe 
Blong, Bill Douglass, Bill Hart, Jack McNeary, George Baker, Jack 
Brennan, John T. Magner, George Seward, Ed. Gault, George McGinnis, 
Tom Deasley, George Streif, Arlie Latham, Bill and Jack Gleason, Tom 
Loftus, Robert Wallace, Hugh Nicol, Henry Boyle, John Peters, William 
E. ("Tip") O'Neil, Al Bushong, Curt Welch, Cal Broughton, Bill Robinson, 
Bob Carruthers, Dave Foutz, Nat Hudson, Joe Quinn, Fred Dunlap, Tom 
Dolan, J. E. Seery, Jack Gflasscock, George Meyers, Jack Boyle, W. L. 
Hassamer, Charles ("Silver") King, William B. Fuller, C. E. Duffee, 
Thomas McCarthy, John Stivetts, Elton J. Chamberlain, Phil Campau, 
Mike Trost, W. Higgins, Jake Wells, Bill Clingman, Tommy Dowd, Theo- 
dore Breitenstein, Arthur Clarkson, Heine Peitz, "Pink" Hawley, Fred Ely, 
Richard Cooley, Charles Frank, M. Hogan, Ed McFarland, Tom Parrott, 
Emmett Heidrick. 

Toledo, O. — Sam Barckley, Tony Mullane, Hank O'Day, Fred Walker, 
Charles Morton, Curt Welch, Tommy Poorman, G. Alvord, E. Swartwood, 
W. Sneed, Perry Werden, P. Vandyke, C. Welch, G. Tebeau, Parson Nich- 
olson, W. Sprague, W. Friel, J. Healey, E. Sage, Ed Smith, C. Cushman. 

Rochester, N. Y. — Mike Griffin, J. McGuire, James Knowles, Harry 
Lyons, John Grim, P. Sheffler, Robert Barr, H. Greenwood, Ed. M'cKeough, 
Eddie Burke, W. Phillips, Jimmy Fields, Ed Smith, B. Miller, L. Titcomb, 
George Weidman. 

Washington, D. C. — Asa Brainard, D. Allison, E. Mills, Charles 
Sweasey, F. Waterman, Davy Force, A. J. Leonard, G. W. Hall, H. W. 
Berthrong, J. W. Glenn, Frank Fennelly, Bob Barr, W. F. King, Phil 
Baker, George Schoch, Hank O'Day, Alex. Ferson, George Haddock, G. H. 
Krock, John Irwin, Walter Wilmot, Ed Beecher, Sam Wise, W. E. Hoy, 
John J. Carney, Enoch Barkeley, Wilfred Carsey, William Smalley, Gil 
Hatfield, Ed Beecher, Tom Griffin, Frank Foreman, Patsy Donovan, Jake 
Drauby, Al Selbach, Win Mercer, Otis Stockdale, E. Cartwright, Buck 
Freeman, Frank Ward, Joe Sullivan, Phil Campau, M. Malarkey, D. Coo- 
gan, "Parson" Nicholson, Jimmy McJames, Jack O'Brien, George Wrigley, 

E. Demontreville, Charles Reilly, Tom Brown, Charles Abbey, Billy Lush, 
Jake Gettman, Al Wagner, Jimmy Casey. Charles Carr, Phil Baker, George 

F. McBride, Walter Johnson, Pete Cassidy, Chick Gandil, E. Foster, W. 




Famous Managers of Old Times 

1 — Oliver Tebeau, of Cleveland. 2 — James Mutrie, of New York. 
3 — Frank Bancroft, of Providence. 4 — W. H. Watkins, of Detroit. 
5 — William Barnie, of Baltimore. 6 — Frank Selee, of Boston. 7 — Arthur 
Irwin, of Philadelphia. 8 — Gus Schmelz, of Washington. 



Players of Base Ball 295 

Boehling, Tom Hughes, C. Ainsmith, W. Henry, C. Groom, Clyde Milan, 
Dan Moeller, 

Providence, R. I. — Jerry Denny, Bobby Matthews, Joe Start, Jack 
Farrell, Arthur Irwin, John M. Ward, Charley Sweeney, Charles Radbourn, 
Barney Gilligan, Paul Hines, J. L. Richmond, Cliff Carroll, Lew Brown, 
J. T. Cassidy, Arthur Irwin, Fred Lewis, Vincent Nava, Charley Bassett, 
Ed Crane, Tom Lovett and Emil Gross. 

Indianapolis, Ind. — E. S. ("The Only") Nolan, Fred Mann, Charles 
Houtz, Ad Rocap, Mike Golden, Joe Quest, George Shaffer, Dan O'Leary, 
Marr Phillips, John McSorley, Tommy Poorman, Henry Boyle, Jerry Dor- 
gan, Jim Keenan, Charley Reilley, Albert Meyers, Jake Arundel, Billy Hoy, 
Joe Quinn, Otto Schomberg, Jack Glasscock, Will Sowers, A. W. Rusie; 
Charles Getzein, R. D. Buckley, J. C. McGeachey, J. E. Seery, J. A. Somers. 

Louisville, Ky. — Jack Chapman, Jimmy Devlin, Scott Hastings, 
Charley Snyder, Bill Hague, Charley Fulmer, A. A. Allison, J. C. Carbine, 
George Bechtel, Jack Ryan, Phil Reccius, Guy Hecker, Louis Browning, 
Bill ("Chicken") Wolf, Leech Maskrey, John Reccius, George Latham, 
Joe Grerhardt, Sam Weaver, Ed Whitney, Amos Cross, Joe Crotty, Tom 
Ramsey, W. H. Veach, John A. Kerins, Joe Werrick, Lave Cross, Amos 
Cross, W. White, Paul Cook, Harry Vaughn, Scott Stratton, P. Raymond, 
Phil Tomney, Dan Shannon, Phil Ehret, J. B. Ryan, H. Raymond, E. Good- 
all, P. Weckbecker, Harry L. Taylor, T. Shinnick, E. Hamberg, Ed Bligh, 
J. Meakin, W. B. Weaver, Jouett Meekin, Hugh Jennings, John Ewing, 
John Cline, Jack Grim, Fred Pfeffer, W. Merritt, W. Hemming, J. Menefee, 
John J. McCloskey, George Borchers, John J. O'Brien, G. Hatfield, Fred 
Clarke, Dan McGann, Jimmy Rogers, W. Clingman, William Hill, Charles 
Eraser, Joe Dolan, Ollie Pickering, Tom McCreary, William ("Ducky") 
Holmes, Charles Dexter, W. Nance, Hans Wagner. 

Columbus, O. — Joe Straub, Rudolph Kemmler, Frank Mountain, Jake 
Valentine, Bill Kuehne, John Richmond, Tom Brown, Fred Mann, Edward 
Dundon, Jack O'Connor, Manager Gus Schmelz, Jake Stenzel, Henry Gast- 
right, William Widner, Ed Dailey, Ralph Johnson, W. D. White, Jack 
Doyle, Charles Crooks, Ed M. Daily, Joe Gunson, W. R. Hamilton, J. Mc- 
Tamany, John Easton, Phil Knell, Frank KnaUss. 

Hartfoed, Conn. — Robert Ferguson, Doug. Allison, W. Arthur Cum- 
mings, Tommy Bond, Ed Miller, John Burdock, Tom Carey, Tom York, 
Jack Remsen, J. Cassidy, Dick Higham, Bill Harbidge. 

RocKiBBD, III. — A. G. Spalding, C. Hastings, "Cherokee" Fisher, J. D. 
Mack, Bob Addy, A. C. Anson, Charles Fulmer, W. Ham, C. Bird, J. 
Stires, T. J. Foley, A. Barker, Fred Cone, George King and D. Sawyer. 

Troy, N. Y. — Mike McGeary, Tom Abrams, Jim Ward, Pete McCarl, 
W. McMuUin, J. Flynn, W. Craver F. Bellan, R. Flowers, M. King, T. 
Foster, Lip Pike, Buck Ewing, P. Gillespie, Mickey Welch, John E, Clapp, 
Mike Dorgan, James E. O'Neill, Frank Hankinson, Ed Caskins, John M. 
Ward, John Troy, Roger Connor, John G. Reilly, S. Leavenworth, T. P. 
Houck, H. Doescher, Tom Mansell, P. McManus, W. Holbert, Tim Keefe. 

Syracuse, N. Y. — Tim O'Rourke, Pat Wright, Fred Ely, Barney Mc- 
Laughlin, C. Simon, Barney Pelty, G. Mars, E. McQueery, E. Morrison, 
J. Dorgan, W. Phillips, J. Battin, W. Briggs, P. Dealey, H. Peitz, Jimmy 
Casey. 

Worcester, Mass. — J. L. Richmond, Al Bushong, George Creamer, 
Arthur Whitney, Lon Knight, Harry Stovey, Charley Bennett, Pete Hotal- 
ing, Fred Mann, Jimmy Barrett, Jack Hayden, G. Weidman. 

The above list comprises only players who have seen major 
league service, for long or short terms, and have, therefore, neces- 
sarily achieved some degree of national fame. To this list must 
be added the many thousands of really fine players who have 
served in the various minor leagues from 1877 to the present 
day, to afford even a faint realization of what a mighty host of 
players has been sheltered under the aegis of organized ball; 



296 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

and what a debt of gratitude is due, by fans and players alike, 
to the labors and struggles of the men enumerated in the previous 
chapter, who conceived, designed, developed and perfected the 
National game of Base Ball. 

A HOPELESS TASK OF SELECTION. 

Analyzing the above imposing list of major league players 
who have served the game with more or less distinction since the 
introduction of pure professional teams in 1869, it is a difficult, 
not to say ungrateful, task to select any one player as superior 
to all the rest, though we have always been inclined to consider 
catcher-manager William ("Buck") Ewing, in his prime, from 
1884 to 1890, as the greatest player of the game from the stand- 
point of supreme excellence in all departments — batting, catching, 
fielding, base running, throwing and base ball brains — a player 
without a weakness of any kind, physical, mental or temperamen- 
tal. It would also be impossible, justly, to make up one team of 
supreme excellence from the above list which would meet with 
general acceptance; although able critics from time to time have 
essayed that futile, and thankless, task. Some time ago, Mr. 
T. H. Murnane, of the Boston "Globe" — a great player from 
1871 to 1883, and a base ball writer from 1884 to date — essayed 
to name an All-American team and his selections, based upon 
his individual observation and judgment, were as follows: 
Catcher, Charles Bennett; pitchers, Cy Young and Carruthers; 
first base, A. C. Anson (captain) ; second base, Ross Barnes ; 
third base, Ed Williamson ; shortstop, J. ("Hans") Wagner ; right 
fielder, Ty Cobb; center fielder, Joe Jackson; left fielder. Bill 
Lange. 

SELECTION BY DECADES. 

It will be at once seen that the above list of "greatest" will 
not meet with general acceptance owing to the exclusion of other 
players just as great as the ones selected — and perhaps greater 
from the standpoint of individual opinion, which is an import- 
ant factor in a game which depends for support upon a vast 
multitude of "fan" units, each of which considers his opinion as 
at least equal to that of every other "fan" or critic. The mental 
attitude of the average "fan" is however certain to lead to other 
"selections" of the "greatest teams," with no better result than 



Players of Base Ball 297 

has attended Mr. Murnane's efforts. In view of the impossibil- 
ity of making up one team of the greatest players covering a 
period of 44 years, it would probably be best, certainly most just, 
to separate the "greatest" players into the four decades that have 
been consumed in the development of the sport. Each of these 
decades had its own conditions, it is true, but that did not neces- 
sarily affect individual skill, work, or achievement, owing to the 
fact that the physical proportions and powers of man average 
about the same from generation to generation. The fact that 
within ten years are compressed the full physical ability of any 
player, in base ball at least, also makes the decade division fair 
and conclusive. So, in our opinion, the greatest players in each 
position — all departments of offense and defense considered — in 
each decade would be: 

1870-1880 1880-1890 1890-1900 1900-1912 

Catehers, White, AUisoa, Bennett, Ewlng, Robinson, T. Daly, SuiUvan, Myers. 

Pitcliers. Spalding, Cummings, Eiadbcwim, Olarkson, Busie, Toung, Wadddl. Mathewson, 

First Base. Fisler, Start, Anson, Ck)mi6key, Brouthers, Beckley, Tenney, Chase. 

SecondBase, Beach, Bames, Dunlap, McPhee, Pfeflfer, Lajoie, Evers, E. Collins. 

Third Base, Anson, Sutton, Denny, Lyons, Nasb, McGraw, 3. Collina, Biaker. 

Shortstop. G. Wright, D. Force, Williamson, Ward, Long, Jennings, Wagner, Wallace. 

Jjeit Field, Lip Pike, Leonard, G. Wood, O'Neil, Delehanty, J. Kelley, F. Clarke, C. Stahl. 

Center Field, H. Wright, Sensenderfeir,Hanlon. H. Richardson, Hamilton, Lange, Cobb, Speaker. 

Bight Meld, McVey, Chapman, M. Kelly, Thompson, Burkett, Tieraan, Keeleo', Crawford. 

The above list includes most of the really great players — 
batting, fielding and base running considered — in their respective 
positions, since the start of organized ball, and leaves to the 
readers such comparison as they may see fit to make. 

A WONDERFUL FACT. 

The census statement of the number of males over 21 years 
of age in Continental United States shows that there are 26,999,- 
151 "potential voters" in the nation. And yet not enough good 
ball players are produced in all this overwhelming male population 
to man two major base ball leagues to public satisfaction ; to make 
a successful third major league feasible; or even to supply the 
demands of high-class minor leagues. Is there any other trade or 
profession which requires such high specialization as base ball ? 




Thomas D. Richter 

Associate Editor of "Sporting Life,' 
of Philadelpliia 




WRITERS OF BASE BALL 

^ iMigfttp 3|os(t of Scribes; TOfto llabe ^erbeb OTieU anb 
jFaitfifuIlp tje jaational (game jFrom tje CarliesJt ©apfl( 
to tfje Cime o! Sts; apogee of OTiealtti anb ^otoer* 

O sport since the world began has been so 
well served by the Fourth Estate as 
America's National Game of Base Ball; 
and this long, faithful, and able service — 
supplementing the organizing efforts of 
the leaders and the popularizing work of 
the exponents of the sport — has been with- 
out a doubt the largest single factor in 
the widespread interest in, and popularity of, the great game. It 
is impossible to overestimate the enormous influence of the press 
in the evolution of the game, in its superior organization, in 
the integrity of its promoters and governors, and in the absolute 
honesty of its players — the last-named point a wonderful thing 
to say of any human institution, but particularly of one purely 
professional and embracing a great multitude of human units 
with all their individual aims and ambitions, passions and preju- 
dices, virtues and vices, and all the complex qualities of mind, 
heart and disposition that go to make up the average fallible 
human being. The 

SPORT IN THE EARLY DAYS 

naturally had but few Boswells, but it was extremely fortunate 
to have one really devoted and truly great writer in Henry Chad- 
wick, who was contemporaneous with its beginning, gradual 
development, and final firm establishment as our National game, 
and who lived long enough to witness its apogee of splendor 
and power. Mr. Chadwick was really the first professional 
writer of base ball ; and he remained a base ball writer nearly 50 
years. He was a potent factor in the development of the Play- 
ing Rules from their crude beginning to their crystallization into 
the present virtually perfect code, and he was always uncom- 
promisingly for clean and honest sport, for good conduct on and 
off the field, for fair dealing in the high places and for discipline 
in the ranks. Contemporaneous with Mr. Chadwick was Mr. 



300 . Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

William Cauldwell, of the old Niew York "Mercury." Later 
these were joined by the Rankin brothers, A. B., and William M., 
both of New York. Between 1858 and 1876 the following were 
more or less noted writers of their day: Charles A. Peverelley, 
who wrote the first history of Base Ball; Henry G. Crickmore, 
afterwards a noted authority on horse racing ; Michael J. Kelly — 
who introduced the shorthand system of scoring in 1861, and the 
box scores in 1868, was the first editor of De Witt's Guide, and 
for nearly ten years the base ball reporter of the New York 
"Herald;" William T. Picott, David A. Sutton, John Carpenter 
and Messrs. Mahlen, Rivers, Brodie, Hudson, Mitchell, Lewis, 
Snyder, Monpere, Brasear, Coyle, Marty Malone and Carl Joy. 
George T. Lannigan did fine work for the Philadelphia "Record." 
Boston in those days was well served by H. S. Kempton and 
Edward F. Stevens. In St. Louis, W. E. Kelsoe and W. McD. 
Spink were the most noted of the early writers on Base Ball. 

a great galaxy of writers. 

In the decade beginning with 1880 the National Game began 
a period of wonderful development, which was due to the inaugu- 
ration of the dual-league system, the formulation of the first 
National Agreement, the gradual multiplication of the minor 
leagues, and the ultimate extension of the reservation privilege to 
all leagues. One of the largest factors in the steadily increasing 
popularity and prestige of the game in this decade, however, was 
the development of a new school of base ball writers of ability, 
power and deep knowledge of the game. In Boston, Tim Mur- 
nane, W. D. Sullivan, Edward F. Stevens, John Drohan and 
Jacob Morse dominated all of New England. In New York 
and Brooklyn William Rankin, Peter J. Donahue, James Ken- 
nedy, Charles J. Merrill, Sam Austin, Walter Eschwege, John 
Mandigo, George E. Stackhouse, William J. Harris, George H. 
Dickenson, and Simon Goodfriend made national reputations as 
base ball writers. Pittsburgh was served by Thomas Fullwood, 
John D. Pr ingle, Alfred Cratty, Charles B. Power and Will 
Locke. In Detroit, Charles F. Mathison was a power, as was 
Frank H. Brunell in Cleveland. In St. Louis, Alfre4 Spink, 
Edward Sheridan, George Munson, Joseph Pritchard, Joseph 
Planner, James Nolan, J. B. Sheridan, Harold W. Lannigan and 



Writers of Base Ball 301 

Ernest J. Lannigan did wonderful work. In Washington, Rob- 
ert M. Larner, William M. Grouse, Paul W. Eaton and 
John A. Heydler were conspicuous for their splendid service. 
In California flourished Waller Wallace, who made a national 
reputation for himself. Philadelphia boasted Harry Diddlebock, 
John T. Campbell, A. M. Gillam, Frank L. Hough, Horace S. 
Fogel, V/illiam H. Voltz, Philip H. Nash, Frank Anderson, Dan- 
iel Mills and Editor Richter, of Sporting Life, and author of 
Richter's History and Records of Base Ball. Chicago was 
well served by Harry C. Palmer, Louis Meacham, Leonard D. 
Washburn, Henry F. Boynton, Thomas FuUerton, Hugh Keogh, 
Joseph W. Murphy and Charles Dryden. Cincinnati furnished a 
splendid quintet of writers in J. B. McCormick, O. P. Caylor, 
Harry M. Weldon, Ren Mulford, Jr., and Byron Bancroft John- 
son (now President of the American League) ; and later, Frank 
Wright, Charles Zuber, Myron W. Townsend, Charles W. Mur- 
phy. Baltimore was kept well to the front by William F. Hobart, 
Joe Cummings, John Anderson and Albert F. Mott, the famous 
correspondent of Sporting Life. In Louisville, William Douglas 
was the chief, and Harry C. Pulliam (later President of the 
National League), also won his spurs in the last years of the old 
American Association. 

the first writers' organization. 

The first local base ball writers' organization was formed 
in Philadelphia in 1885. From this sprung the idea of the 
National Base Ball Reporters' Association, which was organized 
at Cincinnati, O., December 12, 1887 — this being the first national 
organization of base ball writers in the major league circuits. 
The oflicers elected were George Munson, of St. Louis, presi- 
dent; Henry Chadwick, of Brooklyn, vice-president; George E. 
Stackhouse, of New York, secretary ; John H. Mandigo, of New 
York, treasurer. Board of Directors: Joseph Pritchard, Ren 
Mulford, Jr., Frank H. Bunnell, Francis C. Richter ; who were 
also the committee on organization. At this organization meeting 
a number of changes in Playing and Scoring Rules were adopted 
for recommendation to the Joint Playing Rules Committee of the 
National League and American Association, which were subse- 
quently adopted. These changes were definitions of "stolen bases," 



302 . Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 

"left on bases," "earned run," the placing of strike-outs in the 
summary, and the crediting of the batsman with a hit on a base 
runner being hit by a batted ball and declared out. The 

membership of this association 

was as follows: George Munson, St. Louis "Sporting News;" 
Henry Chadwick, Brooklyn "Eagle;" G. E. Stackhouse, "New 
York Tribune;" John H. Mandigo, "New York Sun;" Joseph 
Pritchard, St. Louis correspondent "Sporting Life;" Ren Mul- 
ford, Jr., "Cincinnati Times-Star;" Frank H. Brunell, "Cleve- 
land Plain Dealer;" Francis C. Richter, Editor Philadelphia 
Sporting Life; James C. Kennedy, "New York Sporting 
Times;" Joseph Murphy, "St. Louis Globe-Democrat;" Ed Sheri- 
dan, "Indianapolis Journal ;" B. B. Johnson, "Cincinnati Commer- 
cial-Gazette ;" A. W. Friese, "Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin;" 
A. R. Cratty, "Pittsburgh Press Club ;" Robert M. Larner, Wash- 
ington, D. C, Washington Bureau of "Baltimore Sun;" Harry 
New, "Indianapolis Journal;" O. P. Caylor, Correspondent 
Sporting Life; Albert Mott, Correspondent Sporting Life, 
Baltimore, Md. ; O. R. Johnson, "IndianapoHs News ;" H. S. 
Fogel, Philadelphia Sporting Life; C. F. Mathison, "Detroit 
Free Press;" Mike Lane, "New York Star;" John Fay, "St. 
Louis "Republican;" A. H. Spink, St. Louis "Sporting News;" 
Clarence Bennett, "St. Louis Globe-Democrat ;" M. A. Lane, "St. 
Louis Post-Dispatch;" W. Hincken, "Philadelphia Dispatch;" 
James Faulkner, "Cincinnati Enquirer;" J. H. Raushkolb, Cleve- 
land, O. ; James Whitfield, Kansas City, Mo. 

the second writers' association. 

The first National Base Ball Reporters' Association remained 
in continuous existence until the Brotherhood War of 1890, 
which divided the entire base ball world into two hostile camps, 
and also disrupted the base ball writers' organization. During the 
decade of the '90s, during which the twelve-club National League 
was in sole control of the sport, interest waned from season to 
season, attendance steadily decreased, space in newspapers ^^'^as 
greatly curtailed, some of the noted veteran writers died and niany 
more retired from a field that had become somewhat unpi%>fit- 
able from a literary standpoint. In the new century the estab- 



Writers of Base Ball 303 

lishment of the American League upon major league basis 
revived popular interest and enthusiasm everywhere and brought 
a great many new, ambitious, and able young writers into the 
field, and once more history repeated itself. In Philadelphia a 
very strong local "sporting writers' association" was formed, 
composed of veterans of the '80s and '90s, and a number of 
younger writers. This association established a national repu- 
tation for itself by its solidarity and its sumptuous annual ban- 
quets to base ball magnates and players, and this once more awak- 
ened the spirit of emulation from which sprung the organization of 

THE NATIONAL BASE BALL WRITERS' ASSOCIATION, 

composed of writers in the various major league cities. A tem- 
porary organization was formed at Detroit, October 10, 1908, 
with Joseph S. Jackson, of Detroit, as temporary president, and 
I. E. Sanborn, of Chicago, as temporary secretary. A permanent 
organization, with a membership of 125, was effected at New 
York, December 9, 1908. A constitution was adopted and the 
officers elected were: President, Joseph S. Jackson; vice-presi- 
dent, John Ryder, of Cincinnati; secretary, William Weart, of 
Philadelphia; treasurer, Tim H. Murnane, of Boston; Directors, 
Sidney Mercer, of New York; J. Ed Grillo, of Washington; 
Harry B. Edwards, of Cleveland ; Paul Shannon, of Boston ; John 
B. Foster, of New York, and I. E. Sanborn, of Chicago. A com- 
mittee was appointed to confer with the National League and 
American League regarding the objects of the association, which 
was stated to be : Conferences with the Joint Rules Committee 
regarding the playing rules ; more uniformity in scoring, and bet- 
ter accommodations in the press boxes. Both major leagues 
promised co-operation with the writers on all the points pre- 
sented. At a subsequent meeting, held at Chicago, February 17, 
1909, the constitution was somewhat amended, dues were fixed 
at $2 per annum, and a permanent committee was appointed to 
decide all disputed rules points during the year. At the annual 
meeting in New York, December 15, 1909, the old officers were 
re-elected except T. H. Murnane, who resigned as treasurer. 
That office was combined with the secretaryship, held by Mr. 
Weart. Since that date to the present time President Jackson, 
Vice-President Ryder and Secretary-Treasurer Weart 



304 Richter's History and Records of Base Ball 



HAVE BEEN RE-ELECTED EACH YEAR, 

though the Board of Directors has been annually revised. At the 
annual meeting in 1910 local representatives of the association 
were appointed for a year in each major league city, said repre- 
sentatives to vise all applications for membership and have 
charge of the admission to press boxes. At the annual meeting 
in 191 1 a revised constitution was adopted and an associate mem- 
bership for minor league writers was established. At the annual 
meeting in 19 12 a committee on uniform scoring rules was 
appointed, which made some recommendations which were par- 
tially adopted. At the annual meeting in 191 3, the report of the 
committee on uniform scoring was taken up and some points, on 
which had developed radical differences of opinion, were ordered 
to be submitted to the entire membership for a mail vote, prior to 
submission to the major leagues Joint Committee on Playing 
Rules. Herewith is given a complete list of the membership in 
good standing up to 1914: 

Detroit.— Joe S. Jackson, "News-Tribune;" H. G. Salsinger, "Even- 
ing News;" Morris J. White, White-United News Service; Edward Speyer, 
"Evening News ;" Norman H. Hill, "News-Tribune ;" E. A. Batchelor, 
"Free-Press;" Ralph Yonker, "Times;" N. B. Beasley, "Journal;" Robert 
L. Tennis, Associated Press. 

Cincinnati, O. — Jack Ryder, "Enquirer;" W. A. Phelon, "Times- 
Star;" Robert Newhall, "Commercial Tribune;" R. B. Holmes, "Post;" 
Jose Conte, "El Presna," Havana. 

Chicago, III. — I. E. Sanborn, "Tribune;" W. L. Veeck, "American;" 
Harold Johnson, "Record-Herald ;" George Robbins, "News ;" E. H. Daven- 
port, "American ;" Malcolm MacLean, "Post ;" Charles Dryden, "Exam- 
iner ;" R. W. Lardner, "Examiner ;" James Crusinberry, "Tribune ;" George 
Rice, "Journal;" Matt Foley, "Inter-Ocean;" Irving Vaughan, "Record- 
Herald ;" G. R. Pulford, Newspaper Enterprise Association ; Oscar Reichow, 
"News." 

Philadelphia, Pa. — William G. Weart, "Evening Telegraph ;" Joseph 
M. McCready, Press Bureau of Philadelphia; D. LeRoy Reeves, "Public 
Ledger;" George M. Young, "Public Ledger;" George E. McLinn, "Press;" 
Frank L. Hough, "Inquirer ;" M. Neagle Rawlins, "Inquirer ;" Edward F. 
Wolf, "Inquirer;" Levi Wilcox, "Inquirer;" Stephen O. Grauley, "In- 
quirer ;" A. M. Gillam, "Record ;" George W. Mason, "Record ;" William 
Earl Brandt, "Record ;" James F. Keirans, "Record ;" James W. Gantz, 
"Press ;" Connie Sullivan, "Evening Item ;" William T. Nolan, "Evening 
Star ;" George M. Graham, "North American ;" James C. Isaminger, "North 
American ;" G. A. Hall, "Evening Times ;" H. Perry Lewis, "Evening 
Times ;" Ross Kauffman, "North American ;" Walter C. Hoban, "North 
American ;" Joseph Costello, "Evening Telegraph ;" Francis C. Richter, 
Sr., "Sporting Life ;" Thomas D. Richter, "Sporting Life ;" Joseph Estoclet, 
"News-Post." 

Boston, Mass. — Paul H. Shannon, "Post;" Ralph E. McMillin, "Her- 
ald;" J. J. Hallahan, "Herald;" W. A. Grimes, "Herald;" T. H. Murnane, 
"Globe;" M. E. Webb, Jr., "Globe;" W. E. Hapgood, "Traveler-PIerald ;" 
W. F. Eaton, "Journal;" Carl Barrett, "Record;" Fred Hoey, "Journal;" 
Edward O'Brien, "Post;" R. Murdock, "American;" A. H. C. Mitchell, 
"American;" W. S. Barnes, Jr., "Globe;" James O'Leary, "Globe;" Peter 
Kelley, "Journal ;" John Reger, "Journal." 



Writers of Base Ball 305 

Cleveland, O. — Ed F. Bang, "News;" Henry P. Edwards, "Plain- 
Dealer;" Gordon Mackay, "Leader;" Thomas L. Terrell, "Leader;" H. G. 
McDavitt, "News;" Frank Rostock, "Press;" Ross Tenney, "Press;" Nor- 
man Brown, "Press;" H. T. McDaniel. 

New York City, N. Y.— Sid Mercer, "Globe ;" W. J. McBeth, "Ameri- 
can;" William Hanna, "Sun;" Harry Glaser, "Evening Journal;" William 
Hershey, "Evening Sun;" Jackson S. Elliott, Associated Press; F. C. Lane, 
"Base Ball Magazine ;" James R. Price, "Press ;" F. A. Steimer, "Herald ;" 
E. Lenhart, "Herald;" Ed Curley, "American;" Alfred Goldberg, "Ameri- 
can ;" Allan Sangree, "American ;" Damon Runyon, "American ;" Sam 
Crane, "Journal ;" J. W. McConaughey, "Journal ;" G. O. Tidden, "World ;" 
Bozeman Bulger, "Evening World;" H. D. Cashman, "Sun;" Shepherd G. 
Barclay, "Sun;" Joseph Vila, "Sun;" Walter Trumbull, "Evening Sun;" 
H. P. Burchell, "Times;" Harry Cross, "Times;" George McCurdy, 
"Times;" E. H. Crowhurst, "Times;" W. J. Slocum, "Times;" Joseph 
Reddy, "Morning Telegraph ;" G. Herbert Daley, "Tribune ;" William H. 
Wright, "Tribune;" F. P. O'Neill, "Tribune;" Nathaniel Fleischer, "Press;" 
Fred G. Leib, "Press;" Mark Roth, "Globe;" Grantland Rice, "Evening 
Mail;" Harry Schumacher, "Evening Mail;" John N. Wheeler, "Herald;" 
Purves T. Knox, "Evening Telegram ;" James R. Crowell, "Evening Tele- 
gram ;" E. G. Brown, "World;" J. E. Dever, "World;" Walter St. Denis, 
"Globe;" Fred A. Van Ness, "Evening Sun;" Charles Lewis, "Morning 
Telegraph ;" Charles Meegan, "Morning Telegraph ;" C. F. Mathison, 
"Press;" Ed Moss, "Evening Sun;" Horace Greer, "Evening Post." 

St. Louis, Mo. — Harry Neily, "Times;" Louis Lee Arms, "Star;" 
Herman Wecke, "Times ;" H. W. Lanigan, "Sporting World ;" Sid C. Kee- 
ner, "Times ;" J. G. T. Spink, "Sporting News ;" Earl Obenshain, "Sporting 
News;" Ernest J. Lanigan, "Sporting News;" L. B. Mickel, United Press 
Association ; W. J. O'Connor, "Post-Dispatch ;" Clarence Lloyd, "Post-Dis- 
patch;" Glen Waller, "Globe-Democrat;" J. E. Wray, "Post-Dispatch;" 
Willis E. Johnson, "Globe-Democrat." 

Pittsburgh, Pa. — John H. Gruber, Base Ball Bureau; Edward F. 
Ballinger, "Post ;" Leslie C. Macpherson, "Post ;" James J. Long, "Sun ;" 
James Jerpe, "Gazette-Times;" Ralph S. Davis, "Press;" William B. Mc- 
Vicker, "Press;" Richard R. Guy, "Gazette-Times;" Joseph B. Kelly, 
"Chronicle-Telegraph;" E. S. McCarty, "Leader;" C. A. Evans, Tri-State 
News Bureau ; W. L. Doak, International News Bureau ; David J. Davies, 
"Dispatch;" Samuel Sivitz, "Dispatch;" G. L. Moreland, Base Ball Bu- 
reau ; James F. McShane, "Herald ;" W. H. French, Associated Press. 

Brooklyn, N. Y. — Abe Yager, "Eagle;" Lee M. Karpf, New York 
"Evening Journal ;" C. S. Brandebury, Associated Press ; Richard H. 
Rooney, "Evening Globe," New York ; Thomas S. Rice, "Eagle ;" William 
J. Granger, "Citizen;" Bert Yoell, "Citizen;" Lester Rice, "Citizen;" L. B. 
Wooster, "Times;" Edgar Rutzer, "Times;" W. A. Rafter, "Standard- 
Union ;" G. N. Palmer, "Standard Union ;" George Underwood, New York 
"Press;" John Pollock, New York "Evening World;" George Perten, New 
York "Evening Mail;" F. D. Woodworth, New York "Evening Telegram." 

Washington, D. C— J. Ed Grillo, "Star;" T. S. Milliken, "Post;" 
William Peet, "Herald;" Louis A. Dougher, "Times;" Thomas Kirby, 
"Post;" Victor Munoz, "El Mundo," Havana, Cuba; Jose Massaguer, the 
"Post," Havana, Cuba. 

Associate. — Herman Nickerson, Boston; John B. Foster, New York. 

The above list of members of the National Base Ball 
Writers' Association embraces only writers in the eleven cities 
occupied by the National League and American League. To the 
above must be added the writers in the cities and towns consti- 
tuting the two-score leagues embraced in the National Associa- 
tion of Minor Leagues. As a matter of fact every daily news- 
paper today employs a base ball writer, and nearly all of the 
weekly papers and the monthly magazines give more or less space 
20 



306 Richter's History ajnd Records of Base Ball 

to Base Ball. It will thus be seen that the total number of base 
ball writers throughout the country runs into the thousands — 
being a close second to the number of professional players 
employed in the various base ball leagues covering all quar- 
ters of our vast country — and the daily output of base ball news, 
gossip and comment of this army of writers is enormous ; and 
perhaps unequaled in quantity and quality in any field except 
probably politics and possibly theatricals. Necessarily, under 
these conditions the press wields enormous influence in popular- 
izing this splendid game of the people and is unquestionably the 
most potent single factor in the tremendous artistic and financial 
success of the sport. 

THE FINAL SUMMING-UP. 

Wonderful has been the rise and progress of Base Ball from 
that day, in 1845, when the first club was organized and the first 
playing rules code was written, to this year of grace. Yet, when 
we review the stately march of events, as told in the preced- 
ing pages, and consider all of the amazing factors that contribu- 
ted each a share toward the making of this wonderful game — 
typical in all ways of a new nation — the final expression of that 
nation's originality, initiative and progress, wonder ceases. The 
devotion of a host of really great men to this game, so healthful, 
so clean, so full of moral attributes ; the labors and struggles and 
sacrifices made for it; the immutable purpose to make it the 
one honest professional sport on earth and to keep it so; the 
intellectual and physical powers constantly exerted in its legis- 
lation and in its presentation ; and the steadfast support accorded 
it by two generations of the ablest writers any sport — or, for that 
matter, any single institution — in the history of the world has 
been blessed with, could not fail to make and to maintain, let us 
hope forever, Base Ball as 

THE AMERICAN NATION's CHIEF SPORT. 



■M-J'VV 



^°xr8^ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



